Feels like fancy dress.......

[sheeplady]

This is an interesting thread. I don't have much actual vintage, and am far too much of a "clothes horse" to limit myself to actual vintage. If I see it and like it (and have the money), I buy it. I've spent $80 at a thrift store at one time.

At first, the lipstick was hard to get used to. Now I get comments if I go to school without lipstick. I eased into wearing hats and gloves. For work, I've always had to dress strictly business casual at a minimum (skirt & blazer) so it wasn't much of a jump to wearing suits along with the skirts and blazers. I've always liked dressing up, and had been "dressing up" for years. I don't consider rolling my hair to be too "out there" unless I go to a professional conference. It's just another way I wear my hair.

My husband loves me wearing vintage. Particularly the undergarments. He's bought me almost every piece of vintage I have.

I think part of it is getting used to it. When I first got my vintage glasses, I was aware of everyone who looked at me funny. Now when I go into the store, I think: "Why are they looking at me?" I've forgotten I look different than anyone else. Once you've gotten used to something it becomes a part of you.

 

[SheBear74]

Getting slightly off topic here but are you referring to the things with individual legs, held up by suspenders? If so, how do you differentiate between those and what I would call tights but I understand are also called panty hose, the things with both legs and a panty part at the top?

I don't much like tights/panty hose/stockings (except woolly tights to keep me warm in winter) but am definitely a hold-ups kind of gal. No suspender lines on the outside, no awkward belt around the hips or waist, and the sort of look that husbands appreciate

I was talking about the ones with the panty part attached, I guess stockings would be the ones you wear with a garter?

 

[SheBear74]

I often feel "naked" without a panty hose... maybe it's just because I'm self-conscious about my weight/body (don't mean to start a pity party here, no worries ), but I feel like everything jiggles when I don't wear a panty hose. *shudder* I don't like that feeling. I hear you though, I bet in the Floridian heat a panty hose is close to torture.

As for the skirts - again, due to mentioned above, I actually prefer long skirts. Not down to my ankles (or "maxi skirts"), that makes me look like a munchkin being only 5'2, but never more than 2 inches below my knee if I can avoid it. My favorite length is about 1-3 inches below the knee actually.

It's funny. Since posting that I have started wearing panty hose. It's not summer here yet but it's in the mid 80s and they really aren't too bad. I do like how they hold things in place and make shoes a lot easier on the feet!

 

[rue]

I think part of it is getting used to it. When I first got my vintage glasses, I was aware of everyone who looked at me funny. Now when I go into the store, I think: "Why are they looking at me?" I've forgotten I look different than anyone else. Once you've gotten used to something it becomes a part of you.

Isn't that the truth! The other day I was out shopping and I happened to notice someone staring and it took me a minute to realize why lol

 

[RodeoRose]

Here's a strange question for you ladies, when you first started wearing vintage make-up/hair-styles/clothes did you feel that you were "dressing up"??? I wore a vintage style dress at Christmas and felt that I was in fancy dress!!

Well, yes, I often feel very conscious that I look "different", and perhaps a little costumey... but you just have to accept that if you want to wear vintage clothes out and about. I'm by no means a "look at me!" kinda person, but I don't mind being stared at, sneered at, etc. It just comes with the territory of looking different from the norm. I am more into a kitschy, fun style than purist vintage (sometimes I wear jeans, shock horror! ) & I try not to take any of it too seriously... keeping a sense of humor is essential, I think. Laugh along with the people who laugh at you lol.

 

[Grant Fan]

I felt self continuous for a while. I would practice tons but never b willing to go out in public vintage style. Then I started doing vintage stuff when I got dressed up. Then one day I think I just decided I really liked it an didn't care. Wearing a dress didn't bother me because I am a dress kind of girl in general. But the first few times I was really self-continuous and felt like everyone was staring at me and tons of people were commenting on how I look. Now I don't know if it is that I am used to the stares or that because I am completely confident in my look that people don't look as much, or comment as much. Also being on here really helped me feel comfortable in my love of vintage. Not to mention all the people I am close with see it as just who I am not as anything fancy. They all say they don't even notice it anymore,it's just me. They usually comment when I am in current style.

 

[ThesFlishThngs]

It really does come down to your 'costume for your life', doesn't it? Some people do their everyday business mostly attired in contemporary clothing, but have amazing and accurate vintage looks to put on for certain occasions, while others tend to carry a vintage presence wherever they go, even on the most mundane of errands. As for me, I just don't feel myself if I haven't at least added a few details to my look. Though my passion is 20s/30s, my wardrobe contains bits from all decades up to the early 60s; just things I've picked up because of a certain style element, or treats given me by others. Having my hair in a twenties-esque bob helps as well, along with the option of throwing on a hat before leaving the house.
For an example, yesterday morning I did my exercises in a black tank and workout pants (not as tight and revealing as those yoga pants over in a similar thread...' ). When I finished and felt I'd earned a little breakfast from the joint down the street, I could have easily walked out the door without changing my look, but that's just not me anymore. It took about three minutes to swap the pants for a red retro pencil skirt, slip into red peeptoe wedges, and don the cateye sunglasses before leaving the house. No comfort was sacrificed but several glamour points were added.
Another time, I'd put on a simple straw cloche against the sun, as I went to buy bread. And older gentleman in the queue gave me a rather long, direct look and said, "I just love your hat. I try to get my wife to wear hats but she won't. I sure love a hat...."

 

[HannahJane]

Hello ladies, sorry to resurrect and old thread but I think my questions fits into this topic.
I'm in need of some advice. A couple of years ago I got myself a lovely little fur cape. I absolutely love it but I struggle to know how to wear it. I've worn it for some formal events but every time I try to dress it down a bit I just feel like a child who's been in the dressing up box. I'd like to be able to wear it more often so my question really is, how do you make something like this look casual enough for everyday wear? Is it even possible?
This is what it looks like, (sorry for the poor quality phone snaps!)

 

[Frenchy56]

Lovely cape, good question!

I wear my fur stuff over daytime wear in winter. I think when it's legitimately cold enough to wear something like that for warmth and not just show you can probably wear it over anything.

Also, I think it all probably just goes back to bigger questions of 'formality' and vintage style... even if you wore this over, say, a little beaded sweater, a pencil skirt and heels in winter - something not terribly dressy by vintage standards - you're going to look more 'dressed up' than Joe Public.

 

[HannahJane]

Thank you for answering!
I think you have a point about wearing it when it's clearly for warmth and not just in a show off sort of way.
I also think you hit the nail on the head with the question of formality in a modern context. I have a few simple, not fancy dresses I think it would look ok with and not formal by vintage standards but when I picture sitting on the bus dressed like that I think I'll just look very over the top. I suppose I'll just have to save it for days when I feel very extravagant and really want to be the centre of attention lol.

 

[Louise Anne]

Hello ladies, sorry to resurrect and old thread but I think my questions fits into this topic.
I'm in need of some advice. A couple of years ago I got myself a lovely little fur cape. I absolutely love it but I struggle to know how to wear it. I've worn it for some formal events but every time I try to dress it down a bit I just feel like a child who's been in the dressing up box. I'd like to be able to wear it more often so my question really is, how do you make something like this look casual enough for everyday wear? Is it even possible?
This is what it looks like, (sorry for the poor quality phone snaps!)

I think there is no getting away from fur = cold weather in the day time, when it's cold people do wear some odd things in the name of keeping warm so I think the time of years will come when you can wear this and get full use out of it.

 

[Antje]

I remember that I found it so strange to walk around with red lips, so I always put it on and then at the arival I had "eaten" it from my lips, so there was only a stain,
I never had it with the hair and clothing, with the hair I'm a lot of the time in rolls, pincurls you name it and it feels like me, and with clothing I'm not always wearing vintage but alot of rockabilly stuf also.

 

[St. Louis]

I've been pondering this question because I don't get a lot of reactions to vintage clothing any more. I think it's because I dress kind of frumpy. That is, I wear my hair in a simple wavy bob, with plain cotton blouses and skirts, simple low-heeled sandals or white keds-style sneakers with bobby socks during the day, no red lips unless I'm going out someplace fancy, ... in other words, old fashioned by today's standards, but not remarkably different. It seems to me that most women of my age and station in life (sort of in the middle of both) wouldn't have worn brilliant red lips and very prominent hairdos for everyday-- or am I wrong about that?

About the red lips: I agree -- I do find it very difficult to find a true red that isn't super-bright. I end up feeling as though I'm wearing clown makeup. I've tried almost all the drugstore brands and have decided that the only solution is to save the pennies and buy a good quality lipstick in a department store, where I can try them on. I know that's been discussed on this forum elsewhere, but I think that's really the main thing: those super bright red lips are cute on the younger girls, but on me it's just too much.

Oh, and no, I don't look like Margaret O'Brien (my avatar.) I'm just a huge fan.

 

[Frenchy56]

About the red lips: I agree -- I do find it very difficult to find a true red that isn't super-bright. I end up feeling as though I'm wearing clown makeup. I've tried almost all the drugstore brands and have decided that the only solution is to save the pennies and buy a good quality lipstick in a department store, where I can try them on. I know that's been discussed on this forum elsewhere, but I think that's really the main thing: those super bright red lips are cute on the younger girls, but on me it's just too much.

Have you tried Mac's Russian Red? I prefer Ruby Woo, personally, but it is very bright and very matte. Russian Red is creamier and is still a classic 'vintage' red, I know a lot of ladies who find Ruby Woo too bright prefer Russian Red. Both lipsticks are very good quality and well worth the price.

 

[St. Louis]

Great suggestion. I'll look for it right away. I used to wear Mac's Redwood, but unfortunately it was discontinued. Russian Red looks even better, because it's more of a blue-red. What do you think about Dubonnet? Too dark / plummy for the late 1930s? Here's the link to the shades. I couldn't get one to link directly to the colors. I've tried on Ruby Woo and find that it's too bright for the image I'm going for.

 

[Frenchy56]

Great suggestion. I'll look for it right away. I used to wear Mac's Redwood, but unfortunately it was discontinued. Russian Red looks even better, because it's more of a blue-red. What do you think about Dubonnet? Too dark / plummy for the late 1930s? Here's the link to the shades. I couldn't get one to link directly to the colors. I've tried on Ruby Woo and find that it's too bright for the image I'm going for.

Yay, let me know how you get on!

I haven't tried Dubonnet, and I know little about 30s makeup- there are lots of threads on here that would surely help you on that, though. You could even try searching for 'Dubonnet' to see if anyone's already been discussing it. Googling beauty blogs can also be a help, someone may have posted swatches of the colours together.

About Russian Red, I don't wear it that often, but what I do like about it is that it isn't too browny or purply- lots of darker red lipsticks just show up either a brickish or plum colour on me, and Russian Red just looks like, well, a dark red, which is great. If you find Ruby Woo intimidatingly bright I would think you'd be a lot more comfortable with the latter.

 

[Fräulein U.]

My style is classic/40s inspired. I own a few repros, the rest is regular modern clothes in classic styles that just haven't changed all that much. I combine that with 40s hair and makeup and vintage acessories (furs, pearls etc.).

I guess since I kinda grew into that over the years it feels natural to me. I always loved a classic, timeless, well made wardrobe and once I was able to afford the style I always thought I should have I never looked back. I probably wouldn't wear somethething that felt like fancy dress to me (unless I was going to a fancy dress ball that is). I think it shows if you don't feel comfortable in your skin, and no amount of pretty clothes or makeup can make up for that. If you want to change your style I'd say unless you go "wow, this is finally how I should have looked all the time and just didn't know" take it slow and start changing things bit by bit.