Don't want to be (seen as) a wannabe!

[Puzzicato]

It's possible to be *too perfect,* I think. If all you can do when you're out and about is worry that every little detail of your outfit is just-so, then chances are you aren't wearing your clothes, your clothes are wearing you. Which kind of defeats the whole purpose, I think. You don't need to be constantly fussing with your hair or makeup or checking your stocking seams or picking imaginary lint off your coat or measuring the angle of your hat so it tilts at a perfect 45 degrees, or running home to change because the waiter dropped ravioli in your lap.

The most important thing you can do is simply learn to let your Vintage Ensemble just be your clothes. All else follows from that.

I want ravioli now

I don't have anything of value to add.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

One more valuable point to add -- LEARN ALL YOU CAN about the era you are interested in. Fashion, movies, music, sociology, politics, etc. That way you will ooze it, even when in jeans.

I had many people tell me when I'm in jeans and a t-shirt that "You are 30s no matter what you wear!" That's probably the most important part of not looking like a "wannabe." Anyone can wear a costume -- it takes a tue lover to embrace the era and make that "costume" their way of life.

 

[Berlin]

At the moment I am reading a book, that I got, with everything in it, you need to know about the 1940s.
And a funny piece of information in the book is, that often, re-enactors look wrong because their clothes are just too good.

People back then, in times of rationing, often wore clothes which were old, faded, and repaired.
I think that this is something to keep in the back of your mind aswell.

 

[Puzzicato]

At the moment I am reading a book, that I got, with everything in it, you need to know about the 1940s.
And a funny piece of information in the book is, that often, re-enactors look wrong because their clothes are just too good.

People back then, in times of rationing, often wore clothes which were old, faded, and repaired.
I think that this is something to keep in the back of your mind aswell.

Exactly! And I know I have said this before, but people are the same as they ever were - they will wear something that isn't "fashionable" because they love it, or it suits them, or they haven't had enough money to replace it, or because it is their husband's favourite. And that goes for women in any era.

 

[Miss Golightly]

I gave birth to a baby girl last year and I was told to start wearing 'Mommy shoes'.

I have always worn some sort of heel to every occasion including high school. I did PE in heels, Home EC in heels, and I wore heels all through my pregnancy.

Welcome to the Lounge Mumette!

I had my little girl last year and, like you, wore heels throughout my pregnancy (I did get a lot of horrified looks in my platform Balenciagas - in fairness the heel is ridiculously high!) and got the whole "shouldn't you be wearing flats?" - as if!!!!!!!!

I have no doubt you'll find your own vintage style - it takes time and some trial and error - I bought some 40's dresses but I'm really more of a 50's/early 60's kind of gal but I had to try different styles to see what suited me and most importantly what I felt happy and confident wearing. For me, confidence is the key to looking good.

 

[Mumette]

Thank you for the welcome Golightly. Yes, confidence is key to looking good in any outfit in any area. I think I'm going to have to pay a little visit to my local book store and see if I can pick up a similar book to what Berlin is reading. It would be very helpful if you could give me the title.

Yes, I remember entering my OB/GYN's office in my black Louboutins, and him giving me the 'Oh no she didn't' look. Then again, I only started showing at 7 1/2 months and delivered at 120 lbs.

 

[Berlin]

It would be very helpful if you could give me the title.

No problem, Miss, this is the book I am talking about!

 

[Miss Sis]

At the moment I am reading a book, that I got, with everything in it, you need to know about the 1940s.
And a funny piece of information in the book is, that often, re-enactors look wrong because their clothes are just too good.

People back then, in times of rationing, often wore clothes which were old, faded, and repaired.
I think that this is something to keep in the back of your mind aswell.

Yes, but also there was enormous pride in looking the best you could, keeping your clothes in the best repair possible, that there might be a War on but it wouldn't crush your spirit! Look at Paris - occupied, but the women stilll made and wore outrageous hats to keep morale up. My boyfriend once wore a sleeveless pullover with a small hole in it at a WW2 event, despite me telling him not to, and he got told off by an elderly woman who said 'We would NEVER have gone out without mending it. It just wasn't done, you strived to look your best every day.'

I suggest going to period sources for info if possible, rather than second hand info. So many people forget that this is one of the best ways to learn! So look for original magazines, ads, Getty archives, newsreels for the era you want to look into and definitely go look in the 'Everyday Women of the Golden Era' thread as it is fantastic visual info.

Dress your age - not too old and frumpy or too serious. Look for things that feel like you, just from the era you like. Then you will feel comfortable and look natural.

 

[LizzieMaine]

My boyfriend once wore a sleeveless pullover with a small hole in it at a WW2 event, despite me telling him not to, and he got told off by an elderly woman who said 'We would NEVER have gone out without mending it.

That's the difference, right there. Visible holes and tears shouldn't be seen as badges of fashion, or austerity-era nobility -- but there's nothing wrong with *mended* holes and tears -- and if you're wearing genuine vintage, you'll run into them much more often than you want. When a seam lets go or a hem drops, make a point of fixing it as soon as you get home -- and inspect your clothes before you put them on to catch any problems before they get worse. You don't have to be a clotheshorse or a stitch-nazi in order to maintain your clothing properly.

 

[Miss Golightly]

That's the difference, right there. Visible holes and tears shouldn't be seen as badges of fashion, or austerity-era nobility -- but there's nothing wrong with *mended* holes and tears -- and if you're wearing genuine vintage, you'll run into them much more often than you want. When a seam lets go or a hem drops, make a point of fixing it as soon as you get home -- and inspect your clothes before you put them on to catch any problems before they get worse. You don't have to be a clotheshorse or a stitch-nazi in order to maintain your clothing properly.

The same goes for when you need your shoes re-heeled - nothing worse than high heels that are down to the nail - it looks awful.

 

[Miss Sis]

Lizzie, I DID tell him. [bad] He needs to listen to me more often! lol.

 

[Mumette]

Oh I remember reading somewhere that when silk was scarce for stockings the ladies would draw a 'seam' down their legs to make it look like they had them on anyways! I don't know if that little tidbit was true or not but it sure set an ideal in my head. A lot of times now you'll see young people going out in their pajamas!

 

[Miss Golightly]

Oh I remember reading somewhere that when silk was scarce for stockings the ladies would draw a 'seam' down their legs to make it look like they had them on anyways! I don't know if that little tidbit was true or not but it sure set an ideal in my head. A lot of times now you'll see young people going out in their pajamas!

No - it's true! My Mum and her sister used to do it before they would go to a dance - apparently her sister was the best at doing it - her seams were always straight!

 

[Snowdrop]

My nana told me they used to do that too and her best friend used to use gravy browning on her legs to make them look darker, like she was wearing stockings.

 

[Berlin]

Yes, but also there was enormous pride in looking the best you could, keeping your clothes in the best repair possible, that there might be a War on but it wouldn't crush your spirit! Look at Paris - occupied, but the women stilll made and wore outrageous hats to keep morale up. My boyfriend once wore a sleeveless pullover with a small hole in it at a WW2 event, despite me telling him not to, and he got told off by an elderly woman who said 'We would NEVER have gone out without mending it. It just wasn't done, you strived to look your best every day.'

I suggest going to period sources for info if possible, rather than second hand info. So many people forget that this is one of the best ways to learn! So look for original magazines, ads, Getty archives, newsreels for the era you want to look into and definitely go look in the 'Everyday Women of the Golden Era' thread as it is fantastic visual info.

Dress your age - not too old and frumpy or too serious. Look for things that feel like you, just from the era you like. Then you will feel comfortable and look natural.

Don't take it to literally. They had to make do with what they had, which ofcourse didn't meant they set a foot outdoors with holes and tears and,yes ofcourse they at least looked the finest, as much as they could. But the fact is, that the clothing back then wasn't so spick and span as clothing is, nowadays!

Not only the book mentioned it, but an older gentleman, a veteran, told it to me aswell on liberation day. He said, that most re-enactors -as much as he liked it that they were interested in the past era's- didn't just looked right because of their 'over-polished' (not sure if this word is the best choice to use, but Im sure you'll get what I mean) looks.
I never forgot what he told me

 

[LizzieMaine]

Don't take it to literally. They had to make do with what they had, which ofcourse didn't meant they set a foot outdoors with holes and tears and,yes ofcourse they at least looked the finest, as much as they could. But the fact is, that the clothing back then wasn't so spick and span as clothing is, nowadays!

That's something modern folks often forget -- clothing tended to be cleaned less frequently than it is today. You'd wash your undies regularly, of course, but a washable dress would usually only be washed when it really needed it, not just because it had been worn once. The soaps of the day tended to be quite a bit stronger than the detergents of modern times, and avoiding too-frequent washing made clothes last longer. It was cheaper to replace a worn-out dress shield than to replace the whole dress.

This meant everyday clothes, while not necessarily dirty, might acquire a certain lived-in patina between washings.

 

[Lady Day]

To me, there Are a couple of things that make you look like a wannabe or someone who does not know or care about the era. The latter I can't judge a person for, but you would expect someone who is at least trying to know a bit about the era.

Stop Stairing! and Pin Up Girl Clothing. It's even worse when they are worn together. It takes an awesome sence of style to make these work and not look, "Oh, that's a Stop Stairing dress." Many can pull them off, most can't. And there is nothing worse than going to an event and seeing someone in the same dress as you.

The key to having good vintage style is not trying too hard. Not spazzing if you don't have your hair just right, and deciding if you are going for a 'vintage' look or a 'retro' look.

LD

 

[Berlin]

I forgot to add this;
Put as much effort in details as you can! They usually make or break the look.
E.g; Skirts and dresses were usually below knee length, jewelry was mostly bakelite, the heels of a shoe were thick instead of a stiletto heel (which became popular late '50s). Women also 'suffered' matching mania; like matching purses with shoes, purses with gloves etc.

It's really interesting to learn all these things

Good luck

 

[Miss Sis]

Don't take it to literally. They had to make do with what they had, which ofcourse didn't meant they set a foot outdoors with holes and tears and,yes ofcourse they at least looked the finest, as much as they could. But the fact is, that the clothing back then wasn't so spick and span as clothing is, nowadays!

Not only the book mentioned it, but an older gentleman, a veteran, told it to me aswell on liberation day. He said, that most re-enactors -as much as he liked it that they were interested in the past era's- didn't just looked right because of their 'over-polished' (not sure if this word is the best choice to use, but Im sure you'll get what I mean) looks.
I never forgot what he told me

Obviously this is rather dependant on where you came from at the time. Holland being occupied would be a bit different to England that was getting bombed to America where these things didn't happen. Look at photos and within any crowd of any country there are people who look smarter than others, likely to do with wealth as much as anything. As Lizzie says, generally people did not wash their clothes as much as people do now. Sometimes with soap rationing, that wasn't even possible! Many War-time diaries mention difficulty of getting hold of soap or having to choose between soap for clothes or yourself.

Thing is, depends what you are doing - Re-enactment is different to wanting to wear a certain aesthetic just because you enjoy it. Most of us aren't going to not wash just because it's more 'authentic'!!! As said earlier, you have to be comfortable in your choices. This to me applies as much to cleanliness as the clothes themselves.

 

[Mumette]

I personally don't wash my clothes as often lol. Unmentionables are washed but even jeans and and tops go a few wears before washing. Dresses and the like aren't washed until they are visibly dirty. I don't roll in the mud so it works out. My grandmother taught me that washing your clothes in detergent breaks down the seams and clothes are way to expensive