Dressing up

[Spitfire]

From my start at this great forum, I have been wondering how many of you, that actually dress vintage every day?
Is it a true lifestyle?
Or something you do now and again with friends?
Or are you just using some vintage clothing for everyday wear.
Or are you maybe a collector of vintage dresses - from suspenders to RAF flyingboots - without ever using them.

I do not dress up in "the full vintage" - but my Irvin and my A2 has more or less become my trademark.
I have a pair of RAF Flyingboots - but only wear them when we have lots of snow. Besides that I have some airborne, RAF and USAAF memorablia in a box. Or at my shelves in my office. Even a WWII 101 AB helmet!
(Nice to wear, when going down in the winecellar - low cieling:eusa_doh: )
I am also now searching for a RAF Battledress jacket - partly because of its history but also because I think it' s a nice jacket - with a pair of levis or dockers.
I guess I woul feel pretty stupid going shopping in the local supermarket in full uniform including Mae West. Or maybe I just haven't got what it takes

 

[Speedster]

Not vintage, but vintage-inspired. Mostly A-2 or Irvin depending on the weather and a B-2 cap in the winter. And then Dockers K-1 or Vintage Levis 501 1947 model.

The only vintage outfit i have is my tuxedo, which was made in 1958.

 

[nightandthecity]

all the time....I stopped wearing modern clothes years ago.

In the 60s I wore some vintage. In the 70s I wore a lot of vintage. In the 80s I wore mostly vintage. By the late 80s I was wearing all vintage, with the following exceptions...

I have a lot of vintage socks and underwear, but I save them for special occassions. Most of the time I wear modern socks/undies to save on wear and tear.

Similarly: I own a lot of vintage shoes and boots, but for day to day use I will often wear modern footwear of vintage style and quality....goodyear welted oxfords or classic veldtschoen boots from the old Northampton makers, made to almost the same patterns and quality as 60 years ago.

I also own some specialist reproduction items, in particular some LVC/Lee Japan denim and a couple of repro jackets (I am an obsessive jacket collector).

 

[Nashoba]

I'm slowly in the process of phasing out most of my modern clothes. I inherited a lot of vintage clothing from my husband's grandmother. His grandfather kept EVERYTHING (he's depression era, he's a saver) and let me go through the attic and take whatever I wanted. His grandmother had an array of clothes from the late 30's through the late 70's. I took everything that I could fit in the car from the 30's - 50's whether it was wearable or not. Most of it was still in pristine condition. I really lucked out. The rest of my wardrobe is made up of vintage inspired or reproductions. I have a fair amount of modern still but as it wears out I replace it with vintage or vintage inspired.
I always go vintage for formal events. The last 5 years or so I've worn dresses from the 30's - 50's to the Marine Corps Ball along with a fully lined black velvet cloak I made a few years back. It's so much classier than some of the stuff some of the other women show up in. At least I think so. I've seen some scary dresses
Nash

 

[Naama]

I have a lot of vintage socks and underwear, but I save them for special occassions. Most of the time I wear modern socks/undies to save on wear and tear.

I wonder for what kind of "special occasions"

Ah, I'm sorry, but I just had to!

Naama

 

[mikepara]

I wear vintage inspired

In the same way a Rockabilly would wear 50's inspired clothing or a Mod 60's. But its not inclusive or a costume and at this very moment I'm in sweatpants and sweatshirt, and am going out in half an hour to collect my wife...and I wont be changing!

Wearing an old uniform as a Re-enactor / Reenactment is costume play. Wearing an old suit and hat is just getting dressed.

 

[Quigley Brown]

It's probably easier for a woman to wear vintage on a daily basis since there's more to be found. I try to wear something vintage a few times a week. I don't have an office job so being outdoors a lot I really don't want to risk ruining anything.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

The vast majority of my wardrobe is vintage these days. I just don't seem to be able to stop acquiring.

Though i still wear modern shirts. And mostly modern shoes.

I think i haven't been in a non-vintage clothing store for about 2 years ...

bk

 

[nightandthecity]

I wonder for what kind of "special occasions"

Ah, I'm sorry, but I just had to!

Naama

oh, not THOSE special occassions!

I meant things like gigs, dances, parties....

........which I suppose does sometimes lead to....(thinks: when in a hole stop digging)

 

[carebear]

The last 5 years or so I've worn dresses from the 30's - 50's to the Marine Corps Ball along with a fully lined black velvet cloak I made a few years back. It's so much classier than some of the stuff some of the other women show up in. At least I think so. I've seen some scary dresses
Nash

Years ago a buddy of mine and I (both NCOs) went to the local "cash ballet" and picked up a handful of "dates" for the Ball. We wanted to bring a treat to the young Marines who were stag.

After 20 minutes or so you could hardly tell the pros from most of the other female attendees. Apparently thigh length cocktail dresses are what one wore to a formal ball in the '90's. The dancers at least were in gowns, high slits and snap seams notwithstanding.

I guess something to remember about formal events for ladies is that the most formal thing a lot of women (especially the younger ones who date jarheads ) have ever been to (besides their wedding) is their prom. They don't get the opportunity to go to such events much and don't want to spend the scratch on a one time wear item. Marine wives (especially officer's) don't have that excuse, they have at least one formal a year.

My dates always wore gowns. One was a swing instructor and went all out on the makeup and hair (gardenia blossom). They loved the chance to really dress to the nines. I, of course, was in Blue.

 

[Rosie]

I voted yes, everyday but, it's more like vintage and vintage inspired. I mix actual vintage clothes with newly acquired items that have a vintage look with items that I've sewn.

 

[carebear]

I'm wearing my hats daily now but they're all modern makes.

I think the key for me isn't to dress like I'm actually in the '30's (actual vintage clothes) but rather to try to dress as well as and in the style that was common then. To wear a functional sport coat and khakis as daily wear rather than jeans and a sweatshirt. To wear a more classic look and style of suit than whatever is trendy.

To project a more "classic" image in whatever I'm doing, even if that means for now I wear my bespoke suits with the lower armholes.

 

[Samsa]

The only vintage item I wear on a regular basis (or own, for that matter) is my Cavanagh hat. That said, I do tend to wear a tie/jacket more than is considered normal for someone my age.

 

[Nashoba]

Years ago a buddy of mine and I (both NCOs) went to the local "cash ballet" and picked up a handful of "dates" for the Ball. We wanted to bring a treat to the young Marines who were stag.

After 20 minutes or so you could hardly tell the pros from most of the other female attendees. Apparently thigh length cocktail dresses are what one wore to a formal ball in the '90's. The dancers at least were in gowns, high slits and snap seams notwithstanding.

Marine wives (especially officer's) don't have that excuse, they have at least one formal a year.

My dates always wore gowns. One was a swing instructor and went all out on the makeup and hair (gardenia blossom). They loved the chance to really dress to the nines. I, of course, was in Blue.

"Cash Ballet" lol that's one way of saying it I can only imagine those young marines drooling . Not being able to tell the difference...that's my point exactly! I mean for heavens sake it's a formal military ball not a collection of...oh I should stop before I get myself in trouble. But still their marines SHOULD know what is appropriate and at least drop the hint....sigh, one of my pet peeves I suppose. I'm a modest kind of gal and I get embarressed for them when I see dresses slit to ridiculous levels. I'd rather have them look at me and wonder not stare and me and KNOW...if you catch my drift.

You're right though, spouses have no excuse and should KNOW better. I've seen some atrocious things on spouses though too. The way I look at it is, my husband is a leader of Marines. He's a senior staff NCO, a platoon commander and detachment gunny. MY appearance is a reflection on how he is perceived conciously or unconciously. I'm highly visible as I spend a lot of time doing volunteer work at the unit. If I look disheveled and tactless it reflects poorly on him. I've seen this directly with certain officer's wives who shall forever remain nameless and the things some of the junior officers and the enlisted have said about them. If I look neat, groomed and classy it reflects positively on him, and I get alot more respect. They know me, love me, and most of all respect me and that's the way I like to keep it. Plus the mass quantities of home-baked cookies I bring on a regular basis don't hurt
That's why I've really started dressing more and more vintage. I'm not happy with what I see in the stores, I find a majority of it inmodest and some of it I literally cannot and will not wear. Vintage is so much more modest and tactful.
Though I must admit...I do love a good pair of jeans and a nice t-shirt...
Nash

 

[Marc Chevalier]

A bordello, kiddo.

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[LizzieMaine]

I'm vintage every day -- but I'm not always dressed up. When I'm not working, you'll find me in housedresses, cotton stockings, and low shoes.

I don't think I even own any "modern" clothes, except for a t-shirt I wear when I'm coloring my hair (something to soak up any loose drips, y'know...)

 

[Lauren]

It's probably easier for a woman to wear vintage on a daily basis since there's more to be found. I try to wear something vintage a few times a week. I don't have an office job so being outdoors a lot I really don't want to risk ruining anything.

Yeah, there's more of it but you gents don't have to do much to your hair, you still can get decent modern shoes to pass for vintage, don't have to wear hose, makeup, do your nails, wear jewelry (though I know some of you do). It's a pain and a half to dress vintage everyday for me! I'm one of the ones who dresses only on occasion, with friends and going out. I just don't like to get up early enough to put the vintage to work every day. Maybe I'd do 50's more often since I could throw the hair up in a ponytail, but really I hate hate hate setting my hair!

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

I wear my vintage hats practically every waking moment. I alternate them so as not to wear them out.

It would take a minor miracle for me to find vintage clothes other than hats, as even if I lost 100 pounds I'd still be too big for anything I've found so far. I do have a vintage inspired Indy Magnoli suit, and I'm planning on getting another one if I can decide which one.

Maybe if someone stumbles on a hidden cache of Oliver Hardy's or Roscoe Arbuckle's old suits, I'd have a chance. Jackie Gleason wore some cool suits in his older movies, too. I fear Sidney Greenstreet was too short. lol

 

[Lady Day]

I dress V or VI (vintage inspired) pretty much every day. I get the 'You look like a granny' comment, but I dont mind. Im way too young and my clothes are too cute to qualify for granny status.

I dont wear modern jeans, much low cut tops, or ginormous belts wrapped around my waste (what is that about?). People always think Im going to church [huh]

LD

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I'm one of the ones who dresses only on occasion, with friends and going out.

You're describing me, Lauren! lol

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