Comments You Get When You Dress Vintage

[Dixie_Amazon]

Wait a few years. Nothing on earth is more invisible than a woman over fifty.

Amen.

 

[Dorota]

Until it is one of them ladies: http://advancedstyle.blogspot.ie/

 

[Stray Cat]

Until it is one of them ladies: http://advancedstyle.blogspot.ie/

She shines.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Don't get me wrong -- I *like* being relatively invisible. Most of the men around here are latte-sipping epicenes, ponytailed dope-smokers or indicted business tycoons. The less attention I get from them the better I like it.

 

[fgradowski]

The first and only time I was catcalled while walking down the street was in my hometown at the age of 15 walking back from softball practice in shorts and a t-shirt. I walk around downtown a lot more now and in a bigger town, and I have never been catcalled at. I do get a few "good morning"s here and there. When I do get compliments on my outfits it tends to be coming from other women.

 

[Stray Cat]

Don't get me wrong -- I *like* being relatively invisible.

By no means.. Relatively invisible is a good thing. Makes you less of a target to those who know nothing better. But, for those who *want* to notice you, you're there. Just, for me: some days it's hard to get it right, and some days I stick out.. those are the days the "event" occur.

Most of the men around here are latte-sipping epicenes, ponytailed dope-smokers or indicted business tycoons.

Hm..
Would you believe me, if I tell you we've got none of those. But, what we DO have is a whole lot of "macho and proud of it" patriarchal fellas, who (the a great amount of dedication) like to practice the ever popular "put the girl in her place".
Cat-calling is inevitable.

I do get a few "good morning"s here and there.

THAT is never a bad thing.

When I do get compliments on my outfits it tends to be coming from other women.

A compliment? From a woman? An actual compliment?!
What does that look like? I haven't got the pleasure of witnessing one such event... so far. lol

 

[TheSacredFemme]

I noticed something interesting this past week. When I'm dressed to the nines I never get any cat calls. Perhaps I seem intimidating? On Thursday I was dressed in some nice 40s jeans and a lovely cardigan my mother in law knitted. Still vintage, snug as a bug and perhaps even a little frumpy looking. Well, frumpy me got cat called 4 times throughout the day, honked at, profanities about my behind etc... I was ready to burst into tears by the end of the day! I'll take being intimidating any day over that.

 

[fgradowski]

A compliment? From a woman? An actual compliment?!
What does that look like? I haven't got the pleasure of witnessing one such event... so far. lol

Usually it's another woman telling me that they like my dress, but I have also been told by a woman that she likes my "pin up" style.

I noticed something interesting this past week. When I'm dressed to the nines I never get any cat calls. Perhaps I seem intimidating? On Thursday I was dressed in some nice 40s jeans and a lovely cardigan my mother in law knitted. Still vintage, snug as a bug and perhaps even a little frumpy looking. Well, frumpy me got cat called 4 times throughout the day, honked at, profanities about my behind etc... I was ready to burst into tears by the end of the day! I'll take being intimidating any day over that.

I do think that men find a nicely dressed woman intimidating, especially a vintage lady! I think they are intimidated because when you dress well it shows that you care about and respect yourself. You're obviously no "easy target" for them.

 

[Stray Cat]

but I have also been told by a woman that she likes my "pin up" style.

That one I know most of us heard at some time. [huh]

Been called a "librarian wanna-be" -- thanked the person who called me that.

 

[MissNathalieVintage]

A man said to me "How do you manage to look so elegant all the time ?" . On Monday a man said "Don't you look all bright and cheery."

 

[LizzieMaine]

Been called a "librarian wanna-be" -- thanked the person who called me that.

Darn tootin'. Some of my favorite people in the world are librarians.

 

[Stray Cat]

Darn tootin'. Some of my favorite people in the world are librarians.

:thumb:
Same here.
...

Anyway - I was at the market on Sunday and I wore a turban to prevent "wind-hair" and to protect myself. Need I mention the comments coming from folks?
1. "You're sick? I knew it!" ...this girl was actually gloating (believe me, sme giggled!)
2. Whispering with fake symphaty "You've got cancer.. so sorry" ...no, she was not sorry, and NO it's NONE of her business.
3. Behind-my-back talking "Muslim!" ..what: WHAT?! Why?! And even if Iwas/am: what's it to them?! It's not contageous..

..
Good thing mean people exist. They inspire me. :thumb:

 

[Dorota]

I have to say the colour of the turban matches the colour of your eyes beautifully!

 

[fgradowski]

:thumb:
Same here.
...

Anyway - I was at the market on Sunday and I wore a turban to prevent "wind-hair" and to protect myself. Need I mention the comments coming from folks?
1. "You're sick? I knew it!" ...this girl was actually gloating (believe me, sme giggled!)
2. Whispering with fake symphaty "You've got cancer.. so sorry" ...no, she was not sorry, and NO it's NONE of her business.
3. Behind-my-back talking "Muslim!" ..what: WHAT?! Why?! And even if Iwas/am: what's it to them?! It's not contageous..

..
Good thing mean people exist. They inspire me. :thumb:

I wear turbans to bed when I set my hair at night.

My fiance has alopecia and doesn't grow any hair. People always think he has cancer. There was one guy working at a Subway that straight up asked "What's wrong with you?" when I was with him. I found it extremely rude. My fiance didn't care. I guess he's just used to those sorts of comments. People just can't keep their negative nancy opinions to themselves!

 

[Stray Cat]

I have to say the colour of the turban matches the colour of your eyes beautifully!

THANK you, dear!

People just can't keep their negative nancy opinions to themselves!

No, they don't. :nono:

 

[sheeplady]

What's interesting is that I rarely got any comments about having cancer when I was going through treatment, and I almost exclusively wore a turban. I had three people who asked me if I had cancer: the mother of a cancer survivor, a sister of a woman who died of breast cancer, and a breast cancer survivor herself.

Interestingly enough, despite running around for 6 months with my head covered and no eyebrows for the month of October (yeah, you lose ALL your hair), most people I ran into assumed my turban was a hat. I had people say, "I love your turban!" "Does that turban keep your head cooler?" but most people were floored when I said I had cancer. In fact, I attended a baby reading group with my daughter for three months during my treatment with my cancer treatment under wraps. After three months I said to the librarian, "Well, I'll see you in two weeks, because tomorrow is my last chemo and the following week you are vacation." No one in the group believed I had cancer until I took the turban off. (This was before I lost my eyebrows. I looked really sick with no eyebrows.)

What is interesting, is having been through it, I can spot those going through treatment and survivors. I am never sure to approach them or not. I'm smart enough to not say some of the stupid **** I had people say to me; but I am not sure how they will handle it. I appreciated when people would say things like, "Do you have cancer?" and "I'll say a prayer for you." But I didn't appreciate the questions about if it was caught early (it wasn't), if I was going to die (my prognosis), or if it was working (you don't know).

Also, although this is aimed towards cancer patients, TLC is a great store for wigs, turbans, and other head coverings, at cost: http://www.tlcdirect.org/ Although they are designed for those going through treatment, they have lots of cute options. I wore their classic turban: http://www.tlcdirect.org/Soft-Cotton-Poly-Classic-Turban.html?did=5 in four colors.

Interestingly enough, I only found out about turbans and how great they are because a local organization gave me one for free so that I had something to cover my head when my hair fell out. It was really touching that every woman who goes through breast cancer treatment in my county receives a free turban through this organization so they don't have to go around with their head uncovered.

Well, that was longer than I intended.

But anyways, as annoying as it is to be asked if you have cancer when you don't, it is annoying to be asked a million personal questions if you do.

 

[Stray Cat]

But anyways, as annoying as it is to be asked if you have cancer when you don't, it is annoying to be asked a million personal questions if you do.

:eusa_clap
Well said, Sheeplady!

 

[St. Louis]

I wanted to revive this thread because I had a nice experience yesterday that reminded me why I dress in the 30s-40s style. Sometimes I think it's more than just a hobby or a personal preference. There are moments when I feel I'm striking a blow for civilization, or as Miss Teeuwisse says, "sometimes you have to go back to move forward."

Yesterday afternoon I had a work-related meeting in a cafe near my office. Normally I avoid that cafe because it has a reputation for rude or even downright hostile "hipster" baristas with massive attitudes. But the choice of venue wasn't up to me, so I decided to put my best foot forward. I was wearing a 1940s rayon print dress with a cream-colored wool jacket, matching gloves and oxfords, and the usual pearl earrings. This is the general type of outfit I wear to work pretty much every day. I do it to please myself; I know that about half my coworkers laugh at me (in a nice way.) The other half are just about old enough to remember those styles from their youth.

Anyway, long story short, as they say here in the Midwest, when I went up to the counter to place my order, the young fellow said to me, “Wow! ... you look ... fancy! So … fancy!” I thanked him and told him I’d take that as a compliment, and he said, “oh, you should! I meant it that way!"

That made my day. Given his age (early 20s) I doubt he has ever seen a lady wearing gloves before. I don't think he knew what to make of my outfit, but evidently there was a dim realization that it represented some form of formal day wear.

Earlier in the day, as I was leaving the house to head in to work, I was thinking to myself -- why do I bother putting on gloves when I'm "only" going to work? Then I said to self: well, if you want to live in a world where people still bother, then you have to bother. Does that make sense? After my barista encounter I felt completely vindicated.

 

[Lenore]

if you want to live in a world where people still bother, then you have to bother.

I love this. Do you mind if I snag it to stick on my vanity mirror to remind myself?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Lenore]

Remembering this thread, I actually had a rather funny happening last week. I actually scratched the hell out of my cornea and had to wear an eye patch for four glorious days of pirate jokes and walking into things. The first day wearing it, I stopped by my regular Starbucks (because I'm an addict... I know, I have a problem...) and the barista who takes my orders most mornings saw me and asked me all the obvious questions. After a brief synopsis, he looked me over from my head to heels and told me that I looked like a Russian spy. The outfit in question was a black fitted cardigan, black cigarette pants, and a pair of black peep toes, so not overly vintagey, but a definite vibe. I laughed and waited for my drink. The next thing I hear is the barista calling out "I've got a Butterbeer Latte with two shots for.... Natasha?" I was giggly all day.


See? Giggly.