they don't make 'em like that anymore

[jitterbugdoll]

I wear my vintage shoes with everything! They are much more comfortable, and built to last too (I've had a couple of pairs resoled, and the shoe repair place thought they were amazing.)

I think that women don't 'dress up' anymore because it's too much work, period. Women can't be bothered with foundation garments, slips, dresses, stockings and heels on a daily basis. Most can't even be bothered to do their hair, let alone set it and style it into intricate rolls and updos. Some will insist that doing so is anti-feminine (hence their ‘anti-dress’), but I think the real reason is that we are just too lazy to care anymore!

 

[ITG]

Wow, I wish I could find some vintage shoes to fit my size 11 feet. All my heeled dress shoes make my feet sore and most of them feel as if there isn't enough cushion between my feet and the ground because at times I can "feel the road."

Jitterbug, I agree some of the reason hair isn't what it used to be is laziness...and I'm guilty of it. Many women back then also didn't work full time like many do today and society is faster paced so it makes it hard to slow down to take time to do fanciful hairdos.I know I wish I had the time.

 

[kamikat]

. Many women back then also didn't work full time like many do today and society is faster paced so it makes it hard to slow down to take time to do fanciful hairdos.I know I wish I had the time.

I don't think that's it. I'm a stay-at-home mom and most of my friends are also. Very few of them do their hair and don't have the excuse of working. I think once we got used to the "wash and go" hair of the 70's, it went down hill from there. The other problem is the lack of pretty clothes. Clothes today are either slutty and immodest or unisex. Unless you sew your own, there's nothing in between. While I don't think we should all go back to the Laura Ashley's frilly country girl look, I do wish we could have jeans that hit the waist and t-shirts that don't tell everyone that you're feeling cold, if you know what I mean There's just something wrong when you go to Victoria's Secret to buy pajamas (the sleeping kind, not the sexy kind) and a size large top is too snug on your size 8 sister.
kamikat

 

[ITG]

I do wish we could have jeans that hit the waist and t-shirts that don't tell everyone that you're feeling cold, if you know what I mean There's just something wrong when you go to Victoria's Secret to buy pajamas (the sleeping kind, not the sexy kind) and a size large top is too snug on your size 8 sister.

Amen, girl! I have a high waist as it is and jeans are getting even lower and lower, and that doubled with trying to find a shirt that isn't too short when paired with the jeans creates for a challenging wardrobe. I know what you mean about the shirts...I bought a Princess Leia animae(?) cartoon style tshirt off of ebay recently that should have fit according to the size but it's way too small to wear in public, so now it's a PJ shirt for me. It'd fit my either my 11 or 14 year old sister just find though.

 

[kamikat]

Amen, girl! I have a high waist as it is and jeans are getting even lower and lower, .

I have a high waist, too. It's awful! I bought a new pair of jeans right before a trip and the first time I wore them was on the plane. I was standing up in the aisle of the plane, waiting to disembark, with my backpack resting in the waistband of the jeans, pushing them down. Every time I bent down, I lost my jeans When I got home, I gave those jeans away. The only well fitting jeans that I have found recently were from Land's End. They don't come in flared or boot cut, the natural fit jeans fit like a dream.

kamikat

 

[jitterbugdoll]

I have a high waist too, and hate shopping for jeans and pants! The irony is that this long-running low-waisted trend is not really flattering on anyone, especially when these young girls wear their jeans with belly shirts and have rolls hanging out for all to see. Not a classy look, and apparently they don't have mothers that help them choose appropriate styles for their ages and body types!

The best brand I have ever found is New York and Co. (they used to be called Lerner.) They have wonderful jeans and 40s style slacks that actually come to the natural waist. They are reasonably priced, too!

Good news may be in store though--In Style magazine has reported that high waisted pants are back! If so, I plan on stocking up to beat the next low waisted trend...

 

[BellyTank]

Vintage Jeans...

Hey Ladies-
why not try some repro vintage Levis or Lees?
Levis' Vintage line is expensive and they're (mostly) mens' styles but they're sure flattering on women and add a real vintage touch.
My wife wears "vintage" Lees and swears by them. I have a back catalogue of (repro) Levis- from 1900-1947, about 10 pairs all told- I live in vintage jeans.
Some of the WW2 re-enactor clothing vendors make WW2 US Navy dungarees, which are also very flattering- wide legged and high waisted, which most of the vintage styles available are. H&M, Hennes and Mauritz also occaisionally sell vintage styled mens jeans with a selvedge leg outseam- very cheap too.
Justify wearing jeans with a vintage attitude.
BellyTank.

 

[babylonmall]

I do wish we could have jeans that hit the waist and t-shirts that don't tell everyone that you're feeling cold, if you know what I mean

Oh yes! I am high-waisted too and waiting for the current fad to be SO over!

I've never had vintage jeans, probably need to lose more weight first. How do they compare in fit? (Well, not that I can fit into low rise jeans anyway!)

Deb

 

[ITG]

The best brand I have ever found is New York and Co. (they used to be called Lerner.) They have wonderful jeans and 40s style slacks that actually come to the natural waist. They are reasonably priced, too!

Oh yes, I used to wear those too, but then 2 of the Lerners near me closed up. Those were the softest jeans I had and very comfortable. My last pair however were boot cut but when I put them on, they didn't look boot cut, so I'm now pledging my jean money to Old Navy. (I have to get Long sizes because of being tall and Old Navy's longs are the perfect length for the boot cut. Old Navy has several styles but I get the "Just Below the Waist" boot cuts.)

Belly Tank, are these actual vintage Levi's found in vintage stores or ones in the vintage style that you can find in most stores? I don't shop for Levis so I'm a bit unfamiliar with their jeans line. Did you say you can get them in women's or just men's?

 

[BellyTank]

ITG Levis...

They're Levis' range of vintage repro jeans- probably only available in Levis' "flagship" stores. I'm in Europe, so can't tell you too specifically- but

http://www.us.levi.com/fal04a/levi/main.jsp

use the link menu for "other LS&Co sites" at bottom of page.

Belly.

 

[ITG]

Ah thanks, BellyTank!