Vintage Daily Wear

[elsewhere]

I believe that most community colleges offer sewing class. Also check your local adult schools. The adult school ones are usually free

 

[Doe Peterson]

Doe--Will you please let me know if you find a good sewing class? I'm also in the L.A. area, and it's been years since I took a class. I've done a few of my own alterations, but the last thing I made from scratch is a pencil skirt in 1993! I believe the Singer store in Burbank offers/offered classes, but I never looked into it further. I would like to take up sewing again.

Whitney

Whitney, I never thought of the Singer store! I'll have to look into that one myself. I am looking into the community classes at LACC on Vermont in Hollywood. They have a basic sewing class and an alterations class. Their community classes usually meet about 6 - 8 times once a week. So I'll look for their schedule and let you know what I find. I'm also looking into Trade Tech downtown. I know they offer some classes too. So I'll keep you posted.

 

[Angelicious]

I don't and really can't wear vintage 24/7.
I live in a college Dorm, and I just don't have the time energy, or funds to invest in vingage wear.

Yeah. What she said, but without the Dorm.

I barely have time to dress in jeans and t-shirt and put on eyebrow pencil and mascara in the morning, let alone a full hairstyle and makeup. Too busy coaxing a pre-schooler to eat and dress, before running for the bus.

you could get a paypal account, I got one without having a credit card and use it for ebay and such.

Er, yes, but I'd still require money for it... I think I wasn't very clear on that last post.

People back then often changed patterns a bit, so you could add or remove certain things on a dress to make more different ones with the same pattern.

I'm an odd size (that is, not the usual shape, rather than particularly large or small), and I don't yet have the tailoring expertise to adjust patterns to suit. If I simply let in at the waist and out at the bust/hips, then the finished garment bears little to no resemblence to the original design! Funny how I can get a 1560s court gown to fit, but can't make a simple skirt and blouse... I just have to keep trying I suppose.

I'm looking forward to graduating and getting a job, so I can actually afford to buy clothes (let alone vintage ones!). I envy all you girls who have had the time and the resources to accumulate a good collection of beautiful clothes. You all look so wonderful! :cheers1:

 

[Lauren]

I'm with carpecaligo and Angelicious. I truly admire you ladies who dress vintage 24/7, though!

I consider myself to be a costume historian, so I find I can't really settle myself into one era completely! And while I collect vintage I seldom wear it and use it for study. I have had too many bad experiences wearing my vintage (like that hole that got snagged in my 20's printed chiffon as I was getting out of a car! I will NEVER forget that!). Repros can be very expensive, so I make my repros to wear from authentic vintage patterns or reproductions of historical patterns (and I mean the ones cut on the acual lines of the historical patterns, not modern alterations). Since I usually have a complete historical ensemble in the works (like regency, victorian, baroque, etc) that doesn't leave too much time for making my vintage repros! But I always use authentic accessories with my vintage outfits. They usually hold up better and make it look just right. If someone were to make accurate accessories I might change. So what do I do with my true vintage? Someday I hope to have a Costume History museam and study center complete with periodicals that can be studied on premesis.

 

[MissTayva]

Oooh, there is a costume museum in Burbank, but you can also rent from them, as well. I guess they have been around since the '30s or '40s, as the starlets back then used to rent costumes for randon red carpet events, galas, etc.
Check out the 'rentals' link... I think I would pass out if I were in there!

http://www.westerncostume.com/

 

[Doe Peterson]

My husband is an aerospace engineer and also a reserve officer in the military. Both positions call for dressy or business fuctions now and then. I especially like going to these, as it gives me a reason to pull out my finer dresses, and suits. And some of the events our big band has played at have given me a chance to wear a couple of my 40's gowns. I've met girls who collect shoes, swimsuits, hats, hankies...my downfall is gowns. I have 9 so far.

How wonderful to have an opportunity to wear your gowns! I had a couple of lovely ones from the 1940's, but I finally gave them away to someone who would actually get a chance to wear them. I felt so bad that they were just hanging there in my closet not being worn. :cry:

 

[MissTayva]

How wonderful to have an opportunity to wear your gowns! I had a couple of lovely ones from the 1940's, but I finally gave them away to someone who would actually get a chance to wear them. I felt so bad that they were just hanging there in my closet not being worn. :cry:

Formals are my downfall... I have too many! I do get use out of them, though. Mainly for photo shoots... but once and a while, I'll wear them to a show (where I usually look overdressed, but who cares!).

 

[Lauren]

Oooh, there is a costume museum in Burbank, but you can also rent from them, as well. I guess they have been around since the '30s or '40s, as the starlets back then used to rent costumes for randon red carpet events, galas, etc.
Check out the 'rentals' link... I think I would pass out if I were in there!

http://www.westerncostume.com/

Yes, I went to Western Costume to buy a "distressing kit" for the Indy movie. But I didn't know they had a museam! They are pretty stuffy and some of them are downright rude! But maybe it's just the experience I had. One lady made me absolutely furious because of her "holier than thou" attitude! But if you know someone who knows someone I hear you can go in and get lost in there! I couldn't even make it past the room to buy supplies, the way everyone was eyeing me... someday I will get in there. But I may pass out when I do

 

[ITG]

Hey Lauren, what does a "distressing kit" consist of?

Did y'all see this picture of hats...

 

[Lauren]

Sorry, I forgot to answer the question! the distressing kit from Western Costume is a kit that is in a clear vinyl zip up case containing different colored powders of fullers earth, as well as fullers earth sticks (coming in deodorant style containers) that come in a variety of earth tones as well as a blending stick, a sweatstain stick, and a grass stain stick. It's pretty fun, but I didn't actually end up using it much at all! It's about $140 for the kit, which is pretty pricey, but it's awfully fun.

 

[Trickeration]

How wonderful to have an opportunity to wear your gowns! I had a couple of lovely ones from the 1940's, but I finally gave them away to someone who would actually get a chance to wear them. I felt so bad that they were just hanging there in my closet not being worn. :cry:

I know what you mean. My first one hung around for some time before I finally got to wear it. To give my gowns a night out, I'm talking with a couple of the local swing club owners about doing a fashion show sometime, and loaning the gowns to be modeled. But I plan to wear the one my husband likes best myself . I'd wear them more often, but I love to dance and it's just too hard to dance in a full length gown. I did wear a 50's mid-calf length one to an event a while back so I could dance, but Matt Deckard said my skirt was assaulting him when I spun!

 

[swinggal]

I used to always wear vintage 24/7 for years. Hair, make-up, shoes the whole thing but I have slackened off a bit lately. My man loves vintage and dresses up sometimes but usually it's just me, which is a shame, but that's certainly not the reason I have slackened off. I actually feel odd and not myself when I'm not wearing vintage though. I always dress up to nines for dancing every week and am known in Perth as 'that 40's girl' and 'the vintage queen' which is nice. I just wish I had a group of people like you to hang out with all the timre and to share the passion. But style to me is important, no matter what. I like to feel classy all the time and 30s and 40's clothes make me feel this way. I've been in a few articles in magazines and when TV is filming something about swing dancing here, they always seem to focus in on me because I look the part I suppose. Its funny. I just do it because I love it. Don't really care what others think.

I make a lot of my own repro clothes from vintage patterns and fabric so I can wear them anytime and I keep most of my original vintage things for special occasions. Original jackets, shoes etc I wear alot, because they are so durable. But my vintage dresses and shirts tend to be too precious to wear a lot. I even sell repro clothes for friends company (Retrospectd') who makes clothes from original 1940s patterns for dancers.

For me, I won't dress in full on vintage unless I have time to do my hair. Without the hair especially, a vintage outfit just doesn't work I feel. It just looks odd. The hair and make-up sets it off. Generally, I have no time to do my hair, I'll put my hair in a scarf Rosie style and wear my overalls or vintage jeans out.

But, if I am not wearing total vintage, I always have something on that reflects the era. I'm always collecting, buying etc. I just love it! And I've recently been asked to dance in, help with wardrobe and make-up for a film that is being made here this year set in the 40s - something I have dreamed about.

As for wearing stuff to work and out and about yeah, people stare and say stuff, but it's always positive most of the time. Men on the street jaws drop sometimes when they see you. I think guys are tired of women who dress like skanky ho's with flesh hanging out everywhere. The whole feminine, soft classy look facinates them. But, I have had people say, "Why do you live in the past?" My answer to that is always, "I don't, I just love the style of the era and am not a sheep who follows fashion". Now...what shall I wear tonight....

 

[Kaela]

"it is far better to be looked over than over-looked" -Mae West


I have been trying to do all vintage all the time. I don't have enough vintage sleeping clothes, or vintage style undergarments, but for the most part, it's easy to do the vintage thing. Lately I have been slacking so much because I just moved to the city (used to be a mountain bum) and now I'm absolutely shocked and appauled at how much I get looks. It used to be alright, because I know I'm out there reminding people that they don't have to wear what comes off the rack at the mall, and they don't have to show lots of skin to look becoming. But I'm really sick of getting looks. One fella gave me such a look-over, he leaned out his car window (i was on a walk) and hoot & hollered at me, so I decided to send him a disapproving hand-gesture. Well, what do you know, that jerk gave the gesture right back! Well, I try to dress low-key to keep the looks to a minimum. Mostly just sweater-tops and straight skirts, nothing too fancy, and decidedly dull compared to most of my vintage-styled outfits, but they don't get as much attention. Sometimes it's exhausting.
I absolutely love it though, to get comments. One time I was walking around an antique store with my similarly dressed fiancee, and an older man came up to us and said we were the nicest dressed people he'd seen in a while.
Someone asked if we were dressed for a movie! (this was in the same antique store! ha ha ha!!)
My most favorite comment, which I'm sure you've all gotten is, "what are you dressed up for?" So after all the times it's been asked of me, I've finally gotten the idea to say back, "for Life!" Because what better to dress up for, than everyday Life!
What do all you ladies wear around the house, on lazy Sundays, or to sleep in? I toss and turn so much, nightgowns bother me so! I don't know what would be proper (talking forties) to wear that would be comfortable and minimal. I used to sleep in slips, but they started wearing out too fast, and I didn't want to hurt them!
Most of my favorite clothes, everyday ones, too, I have sewn. I think that if I just get the knack of sewing well, I'll be able to have an impressive enough sized wardrobe where I don't have to worry about tearing or wearing out my nice, vintage-style clothes!
I assume most of you ladies also do your hair up vintage daily, too, though, only a few of you mentioned it. I think that I probably do my hair vintage more than I actually get to dress up that way, it feels weird to have it any other way, and also, once my hair is set in pincurls, I don't have to do much to it to keep it looking nice, so it's also much easier to be lazy with the hairsets. Set it every other day, and I've got a lovely hair-do, for half the time! Of course, I'm still getting the hang of it, so some sets are different than others, and I don't know if I've really liked how everyone turned out.
How many of you have other things that you insist on being vintage, accessories, for me, for example, I always drink from an old thermos, or cover my books in brown paper so they look old if they aren't... just completing the vintage look at school. What else, ladies, helps your look at work or school look more vintage? I always try to talk in a more controlled and concise way, and try to avoid modern colloquialisms, I think that's a good accessory, more than a purse or shoes, it says a lot for the Lifestyle.

 

[HistWardrobe]

Distressing kits

If anyone needs to get clothing "distressing" supplies (fullers earth pounce bags, "schmutz" dirt/sweat/grass stain sticks) etc, you don't have to get the full kit from Western Costume.

Manhattan Wardrobe Supply sells distressing supplies online and you can either buy a whole kit or just key individual items.

Here's the link:
http://wardrobesupplies.com/store/

Click on the tab for "distressing"

Hope this is helpful.

(I do this stuff for a living)

 

[Lauren]

Welcome, HistWardrobe! I am very excited to see another historical costume enthusiast! Your images on your website are absolutley breathtaking. It is very nice to see authentic costumes being made. And thanks for the tip on the source for Fuller's Earth. Next time I need some I'll take your route

 

[rubyredlocks]

As of November 1st, I will be able to choose my wardrobe! Yay!!!

I have had to wear all white or all black for the last 12 years,so this thought is at once exciting and daunting.
Still,I won't risk real vintage in my environment it would be too easy to ruin a treasured peice,I do love vintage for evening attire,as Tayva said you're less likely to have a twin running about.

I'll probably pop in looking for guidance now and then.

Question:
Right now,I am looking forward to wearing my navy sailor pants and wanted to know how you ladies might pair these in a way that does not look costumey (i.e.sailor hat and shirt)but could portray a casual elegance?

 

[jitterbugdoll]

Congrats on the new job, Ruby!

I think sailor pants look nice with a shapely knit top (either a true sweater or one of the thinner knit, fitted tees that still have a tailored feel), in a solid or stripe. I have found nautical-theme sweaters that date to the 1930s-40s, and I am sure there are some cute repros out there in a variety of patterns.

A more casual look can be created with a tie blouse--but for work I think a sweater would be nice. Although, something like this would be pretty darn cute:

 

[Lauren]

Is that a real vintage outfit or a repro? It looks authentic, but it looks in such good conditon! This is one of my absolute favorite looks.

 

[rubyredlocks]

JBD-
Thanks on the congrats doll!
A fitted sweater would be perfect,we were considering a white french cuffed blouse,but since I want some color a fitted sweater perhaps in yellow would be a much better silhoette.
That ensemble is pretty darn cute(exactly the look I'm going for) and I love her hair.
Thank you,I feel like everything is coming together.

Lauren-The outfit is from Revamp.By the way,did you see the aug. edition of Vogue?
It had Madonna looking quite vintage and one ensemble was a very cute equestrian look that made me think of you.I think it's her best look.

 

[jitterbugdoll]

Fancy that--the ReVamp model is a redhead

Could the sweater be paired over the blouse? I think yellow or a nice peach/orange shade would really make the blue pants pop. Red is always a good choice, too