New Ladies and Gents Step Forward

[V For Vixen]

Well.......... I'm a bit of a dumkopf with the pc, but as soon as I fathom how to load piccies, I'll pop a couple on!

You know, Mysterygal, there's nothing to stop you renewing your vows, or having your relationship blessed - that would surely call for a vintage gown!

V
xx

 

[mysterygal]

yeah, but it's getting the hubby to agree with the idea

 

[betty_cherry]

Hi I am also new, though I started a new post of my own without realising this one existed! I am getting married next year and would LOVE to see those vintage wedding gowns you were talking about, mysterygal!

I mostly love the 50s, but have just started to fall in love with the 40s - I think I always loved it really I always had a thing for film noir and I used to buy 40s clothes from the charity shops without really knowing what they were. Bettie Page got me hooked on the 50s and I am just rediscovering the 40s and wartime looks - soooo sexy and elegant. Feminine in a womanly rather than a girly way, if that makes sense?

I have recently started buying a few vintage sewing patterns, but have never sewn a thing in my life! If anyone has any recommendations for a machine, please let me know. I would love to start making my own clothes like I have seen many of you do. I have to say, you are all amazing dressmakers...

I am 25 and a freelance Graphic Designer (hence all the time spent on the internet) from the Midlands, UK. Nice to meet you all!

xxx

 

[MoxieGrl]

Hi! New here (obviously) and this is my em... introduction.I'm a 21 yr. old college student in the southern part of the US. I am an authentic living historian for the mid 19th-ce, and am more or less obsessed with the 1930s-the end of the war, but there is really not much of an outlet around her for recreating that, though I have done a few events. I collect clothing, erm... two wardrobes full, nothing newer that 1945, Waves stuff, records, pictures, pretty much anything else that that has too do with material culture. For about a year when I was 19 I wore vintage everyday from the skin out, and pincurled my hair everynight, etc. etc. Anyway, you could say that I always throw myself into my passions. ;-)
I sew, alot. Most of my clothing, if its not vintage, I sewed myself. Thats really about my only talent though, other than fixing hair.
I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone!

 

[Lauren]

Welcome to all the new gals! I'm so glad you have found us

 

[mandolynn]

Ha, I'm new too. I didn't know this thread existed!

I'm Amanda, or Mandolynn as most people call me (my middle name is Lynn, making my full name an instrument). I've been obsessed with vintage (40's and 50's mostly) for a long time and I just came across this forum and I thought I'd join .

Like a lot of you, I sew, and I'm going to college to major in fibers so I can make my own fabrics and sew clothes for a living. I only have a few vintage finds because, well, I'm still a student and and buying vintage often is a burden on my pocket . But I try to design and sew my own stuff (I made a lovely pencil skirt out of this fabulous brown material and a pair of beautiful black buttons I found at Joanne's. I also make corsets a lot.) whenever I have the time when I'm not working or preparing to graduate highschool .

It's nice to meet you all

 

[Anagaharad]

yet another introduction.....

Hello. I thought i would add to the introduction chorus. My name is Adeline Detwiler (the tradition name in my family for the oldest girl in each generation) i am 22, married, and currently pursuing my undergraduate degree in Biology. I live in northern Indiana with my mother, my siblings and my husband, Aaron who is an Iraqi war vet (he just recently got out of the Marines) so i know firsthand the stress of being married to a man who is overseas fighting and just gives me one more reason to admire the ladies of the 40s who had their husbands gone for years at a time.

Now this may sound silly, but I originally got hooked on the 40s and WW2 when i was little and read the American Girl collection and the Diary of Anne Frank. My other passion is the 18th century, but i'll not go into that.

I have known how to sew since i was 4yrs old and adore historical dress.
needless to say, i was just as pleased as could be to discover a whole online community devoted to the earlier 20th century. I look forward to getting to know everyone and learning from them.

 

[AtomicBlonde]

Now this may sound silly, but I originally got hooked on the 40s and WW2 when i was little and read the American Girl collection and the Diary of Anne Frank. My other passion is the 18th century, but i'll not go into that.

Not silly at all! I had the "Felicity" American girl doll, and my sister had Samantha but I always wanted the Molly doll. Molly was my favorite out of all of the girls!
Woo... I'm not the only one who got her love of history from the American girls series! For those of you who havent heard of the American girls, here is a link to "Molly" http://store.americangirl.com/shop/mollydoll.php?catid=375916
Each girl comes from a different period of time, and they each have books that tell stories about them. I ate these up when I was little. I am mildly annoyed, however that they didnt have as many dolls or as much stuff to go with them as they do now!

welcome!

-Jess

 

[VintageJess]

Hello. I thought i would add to the introduction chorus. My name is Adeline Detwiler (the tradition name in my family for the oldest girl in each generation) i am 22, married, and currently pursuing my undergraduate degree in Biology. I live in northern Indiana with my mother, my siblings and my husband, Aaron who is an Iraqi war vet (he just recently got out of the Marines) so i know firsthand the stress of being married to a man who is overseas fighting and just gives me one more reason to admire the ladies of the 40s who had their husbands gone for years at a time.

Welcome, I am fairly new to the group as well. I really agree with what you said about identifying with the WWII wives. My husband is a U.S. Marine as well, and during his deployments, I have always drawn strength from thinking back to the families who came before us, and the sacrifices that they've made. Of course, with our modern conveniences and technology and shorter deployments it is hard to compare.
I had our first child while my husband was gone on his second tour to Iraq. But he was able to talk to me during labor via a satellite phone and he was able to see an emailed picture of our son within 24 hours. Hard to believe that some of the WWII daddies might go weeks or months or even longer without seeing a picture of their new child, or even the news of the birth.
It definitely gives you determination and inspiration to try to bear your burdens with the dignity and strength that generation did.
So, during my hubby's deployments I always put up my blue star banner in the window, plant a victory garden, volunteer with the USO, and write long letters each night. And I watch "Since You Went Away" way too many times--Claudette Colbert is so divine.

Again, welcome to the group and hope you are enjoying civilian life!

Jessica

 

[Etienne]

I look forward to hearing more about all of you! What fun that women of such diverse backgrounds and ages can all meet here and discuss things that interest us! Jessica, I really appreciated what you had to say and I know I speak for a lot of other people when I say, "Thank you!" to you and your husband for the sacrifices you make for this country. You certainly sound like a wonderful wife and a splendid example of patience, pride, and patriotism.

Etienne

 

[Lauren]

Anagaharad, I think the American Girls series set me off as well! Funny you meniton it, actually! Not two nights ago I was cleaning out my attic and found my doll stuff... I took over the living room and orgazined it all. My mom and her next door neighbor both love them so she's going to hang onto them so she can play "dolls" And I'm with you on the 18th century addiciton as well... especially the 1790's. Yummy!

VintageJess, it is just adorable that you do all the things the wives during WWII would do! Warms my heart!

Welcome all!

 

[Anagaharad]

Welcome, I am fairly new to the group as well. I really agree with what you said about identifying with the WWII wives. My husband is a U.S. Marine as well, and during his deployments, I have always drawn strength from thinking back to the families who came before us, and the sacrifices that they've made.
*******************
Again, welcome to the group and hope you are enjoying civilian life!
Jessica

Where is your Husband stationed? Mine was at Camp Lejeune for most of his 5 years, with CA and the random odd deployment in between. He was with the 24th MEU. He was originally with Electronic maint. Co. but for his deployments he got sent to Infantry 1/2's com shop and went to iraq with them.

And yes, im enjoying being a civilian again, thanks. The thing that i think a lot of civilians dont realize is that if one family member is in the military, everyone is. It consumes everyone elses life that it touches. I remember once joking with several other wives that we were forgetting our first names because after several years, we had become defined not as ourselves but by our husbands. I was no longer "Adele", i was "Czubak's wife".

It's good to have my name again.

 

[Fleur De Guerre]

Hello, I'm Fleur and I'm 24 and live near London in the UK. I've always been a bit of an oddball, clothes-wise, or at least I was until "alternative" entered the mainstream! I've always been very interested in fashion through the ages, having worked for a very old fashion company in my last job I had lots of access to awesome old catalogues and this inspired me more! I also wrote articles for our magazine on how fashion throughout the century has influenced the brand new fashion, which I LOVED doing!

I'm also very interested as well in exotic hair and makeup, but I only recently started to concentrate on a more 1950s look for myself, with the odd nod to the 1940s. I don't have enough clothes to go all-out vintage and I hope you don't hate me for saying, but I usually prefer the modern alternatives and reproduction clothing to create a look that's retro-inspired rather than actual vintage! I need to use my sewing machine more as I'm quite handy with it, but lacking in space and time to use it!

I try and have stylish hair and makeup every day, though I don't wear my best clothes to work because I have to save something for best. I'm mainly here to watch and learn and gather tips for perfecting my hair and getting ideas for outfits. Oh, and I am moving house in a few weeks, and have 1001 plans for a retro-inspired home. So watch this space!

 

[V For Vixen]

Hi Fleur!!

Welcome - another Limey!!

You sound like me in approach to clothes etc - I scour the shops for retro inspired, and have repro garments custom made - when I DO find an original to fit, they are faaaaaaaaaaaaaaar too precious to wear for every day!

Look forward to hearing more about your house when you move!

Nice to meet you,

Vix
xx

 

[VintageJess]

Where is your Husband stationed? Mine was at Camp Lejeune for most of his 5 years, with CA and the random odd deployment in between. He was with the 24th MEU. He was originally with Electronic maint. Co. but for his deployments he got sent to Infantry 1/2's com shop and went to iraq with them.

And yes, im enjoying being a civilian again, thanks. The thing that i think a lot of civilians dont realize is that if one family member is in the military, everyone is. It consumes everyone elses life that it touches. I remember once joking with several other wives that we were forgetting our first names because after several years, we had become defined not as ourselves but by our husbands. I was no longer "Adele", i was "Czubak's wife".

It's good to have my name again.

Adele,

It's funny that you mention finally getting your name back! I can definitely relate--I always say that I have my husband's social security number memorized, but I can't remember mine for the life of me, since in the military everything revolves around the "sponsor's social."

My husband is currently stationed at Quantico. We came up here last year from Camp Lejeune! We were there for awhile--that was pretty much the only duty station we've been at so far. The rest of the time my hubby was always in school...he started off in flight school as a pilot, but didn't like that, so had to start over with different MOS schools...

He served as a staff officer for a combat engineer battalion for his first tour in Iraq, and was a platoon commander for an infantry battalion for his second tour. It's nice to be away from the fleet, and get a little break from the deployment cycle. We will probably be here for another three years or so, and then hopefully back to Lejeune. Hubby plans to do a full career--he'll probably be one of those old Marines that they have to drag out kicking and screaming!

Well, again, it is great to "meet" you! I look forward to seeing more posts from you!

All the best,
Jessica

 

[JustJen]

Hi ya'll!
I'll add my intro here as well. Gads, it seems as though I may be one of the oldest on this site at 35. It's refreshing to see people with a genuine interest in these things.

I've been married for 10 years in June-gosh that seems like such a long time. My husband is an Athletic Trainer/Assistant Athletic Director at a local school district. We have two lovely boys, ages 6 and 2 (Baron and Blaize).

I've been collecting vintage for roughly 5 years. Most of my daily vintage wear is circa 1950's since it's relatively easy to come by. That and I make much of what of my daily wear. I am growing my WWII collection. since it's my favorite period. That being said, I don't get many chances to be "girly" in my household full of males. I end up being the captive/bad guy/all-around-resident-evildoer when I play with our boys.

I have a degree in History with a double minor in Anthropology/Archaeology. Do not even get me started on how I ended up working in the telecom business. I paid my own way through college and I wanted to take classes I really enjoyed-so I did!

I spend waaaaay too much effort, time, and money on eBay. But it's a great resource for those of us who can't take kids on vintage clothes shopping jaunts. Ever been to an estate sale with a toddler?.....yes, you know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, I'm glad I'm here and amongst friends!

Cheers,
Jen

 

[Barbigirl]

Welcome JustJen....I like to think you are in good company. I am 35 also, but I got started a lot earlier, my girls are 14 and 10.

 

[Viola]

Hi everyone, I'm new as well. But I didn't find this thread for my first couple posts because I'm not very swift.

I'm a just-graduating college student, I'm 22, I haven't got ANY vintage clothes, just lots of shopping-lust and vintage jewelry from my grandmother. Also some shoes.

I really got hooked on the period as I am fascinated by WWII. As a young child the Indiana Jones movies didn't hurt either.

I look forward to hanging out here a lot.

Viola

 

[Rosie]

Oooops

Didn't see this and though I've been posting all over the place, I haven't properly introduced myself.

I'm 28 a teacher trying to become a principal. Most of my vintage repro wear currently is from the late '40's and '50's. Most of my stuff is repro I buy or make because I'm "fuller figured" and it's just plain hard to come across vintage clothes in larger sizes. Lately, I have been getting into clothig from the late 30's and 40's and I've been studying hard trying to recreate some of those styles. My first real love of vintage clothing was via 'I Love Lucy', I LOVED Lucy's clothes and was SO happy the first time I bought a "Lucy" dress. Now, I'm really into movies of the '30s- '40s and I'm getting a bit older so my style is changing a bit.

 

[mandolynn]

If you dress in vintage wear while you teach, that makes you fifty kinds of awesome.