Which items of vintage clothing would you never wear? And why?

[Edward]

In a similar vein the the bowler, the stereo-typical cowboy hat. The ten-gallon style, or whatever. Anything with a cattleman's crease, actually, but especially that. I wouldn't rule out all Western hats - I have a Campdraft Deluxe (albeit bashed Fedora style, with a down swoop at the front of the brim), but anything that looks stereotypically cowboy makes me baulk. Maybe it's because my cultural experience of such hats is as children's dressing-up wear - I'm sure if I grew up in a culture / society where they were worn regularly they wouldn't seem "costumey". As it is, though, the traditional John Wayne ten gallon hat looks as much a parody of Americana as the bowler does of Englishness.

 

[old barnacle]

Why all that animosity towards the bowler ?

 

[Pompidou]

I'd wear a bowler before a 10 gallon.

 

[Gene]

Maybe it's because my cultural experience of such hats is as children's dressing-up wear - I'm sure if I grew up in a culture / society where they were worn regularly they wouldn't seem "costumey". As it is, though, the traditional John Wayne ten gallon hat looks as much a parody of Americana as the bowler does of Englishness.

Around here I see many cowboy hats, out west I saw TONS of them. It's very much a country & western thing, and it has to be worn in the correct context, which is incidentally around where I live. [huh]

 

[1961MJS]

Hi

I'm risking being repetitive (I may have posted this info before), I changed from being a city slicker in a Southern Illinois town of 1000 to a hick in Wichita Kansas. I was a city slicker in high school because we didn't own a farm, I wasn't supposed to wear cowboy boots because we didn't own horses. Only a handful of guys wore cowboy boots because only a handful of families around the county owned horses. Living in a big city (Yes, I know, it's still Kansas), I'm a hick because I didn't grow up in a city. NOW, I wear cowboy boots and mow the yard in a cowboy hat. I don't tend to wear hats for cultural reasons, but to keep the sun off.

Hi Edward, I too dislike the cattleman crease, but primarily because it's what is creased in nearly every Urban Cowboy hat in America. No originality, no personality, and most of them are either black or Silverbelly. I don't like the bowler or derby, not for political reasons, not for reasons of class, but because they make me look like a complete dork. I could wear one on Halloween, but not for any other reason.

Later

 

[Edward]

Around here I see many cowboy hats, out west I saw TONS of them. It's very much a country & western thing, and it has to be worn in the correct context, which is incidentally around where I live. [huh]

Yes, I imagine it's a bit different in that context. Maybe, thinking about it, I also dislike them because they seem "inauthentic" to my eye, in the context of the Old West (as opposed to the modern day), which is where I have most often seen them portrayed. I've never actually been anywhere in the US where I would expect to see them worn nowadays as anything other than a costume item, so I'm sure that affects my perception.

 

[Gin&Tonics]

Yes, I imagine it's a bit different in that context. Maybe, thinking about it, I also dislike them because they seem "inauthentic" to my eye, in the context of the Old West (as opposed to the modern day), which is where I have most often seen them portrayed. I've never actually been anywhere in the US where I would expect to see them worn nowadays as anything other than a costume item, so I'm sure that affects my perception.

I can tell you definitively that there are parts of texas and arizona where people wear them daily as part of their ordinary clothes. It's all context, I suppose.

 

[MikeBravo]

These last few posts have reminded me of the TV series 'McCloud' starring Dennis Weaver. He played a Texas lawman assigned to the NYPD

McCloud (1970 - 1977) is a legendary American television series starring Dennis Weaver as Marshal Sam McCloud. McCloud was a law officer from Taos, New Mexico who was on semi-permanent 'special assignment' with the New York City Police Department. This premise of 'a cowboy in the big city' was more or less adapted from the film Coogan's Bluff (1968, Don Siegel), starring Clint Eastwood. Herman Miller, who was responsible for the story of Coogan's Bluff and co-wrote the screenplay with Dean Riesner and Howard Rodman, is also credited as the creator of McCloud. Like Coogan, McCloud galloped the length and breadth of Manhattan, and the sight of McCloud on horseback riding down the middle of a busy street became one of the series' iconic images

 

[Drappa]

Not sure if this is a gentleman-only thread (?), but I would never ever wear bobby socks (or any socks) with a dress or skirt. Despite the authenticity it is the one look I just don't like and have never gotten used to. I'm also not a big fan of saddle shoes, though I do love brogues. I also wouldn't wear 1920s dresses, mainly because I am not keen on the shapes and dropped waists of some and because I think it would look awful on me. Other people pull it off beautifully though.

 

[Edward]

I can tell you definitively that there are parts of texas and arizona where people wear them daily as part of their ordinary clothes. It's all context, I suppose.

I don't doubt it. The only time I've seen any of Texas outside of an hour in Houston airport, changing planes on the way to Vegas, was when our flight ran late on the way back and I had to overnight in a hotel near the airport, so I didn't actually see any of the place. Otherwise, I've been to Vegas, Boston, NYC & DC, which areb't places I'd expect to see the cowboy gear. I'm sure it makes sense in context. I really don't care for cowboy boots either, but learning more about their design gave me an appreciation of the utility factor in them.

Not sure if this is a gentleman-only thread (?), but I would never ever wear bobby socks (or any socks) with a dress or skirt. Despite the authenticity it is the one look I just don't like and have never gotten used to. I'm also not a big fan of saddle shoes, though I do love brogues. I also wouldn't wear 1920s dresses, mainly because I am not keen on the shapes and dropped waists of some and because I think it would look awful on me. Other people pull it off beautifully though.

Men are lucky.... it seems women's fashion can go for a much longer period of years where the only fashions readily available only suit a particular body-type. I imagine that, as much as preference, is a big factor in dictating which period of vintage works for a lot of ladies? (That could be read as to suggest women are only interested in the clothing and how they look in it - certainly not intended that way, simply just, well - we all care about what works on us and what doesn't, male and female).

 

[Drappa]

Men are lucky.... it seems women's fashion can go for a much longer period of years where the only fashions readily available only suit a particular body-type. I imagine that, as much as preference, is a big factor in dictating which period of vintage works for a lot of ladies? (That could be read as to suggest women are only interested in the clothing and how they look in it - certainly not intended that way, simply just, well - we all care about what works on us and what doesn't, male and female).

I've heard a few people say that every decade fits every body type if you get the right outfit, and that it is nonsense to pick your favourite era according to shape, but I completely disagree. Even nowadays I find most women look terrible in low-cut skinny jeans, because they simply look best on very slender women (in my personal opinion only of course). The same goes for skirt-lengths, position of waist and silhouette - some things really do look better on some than on others. I share your belief that most people want to look nice and pick their clothing accordingly, except the most pragmatic or very poor, so I don't find it offensive to say that women (or men) pick their look according to how they look in it. Where it gets difficult is when people really love a look which does nothing for their body and they don't realise it, or their friends don't tell them. I guess the advent of jersey as the most popular material for women's clothes hasn't helped, as it is so unforgiving.
Having said all that, I still prefer women's choices, because it seems so much less rigid and more varied than men's

 

[LizzieMaine]

Even nowadays I find most women look terrible in low-cut skinny jeans, because they simply look best on very slender women (in my personal opinion only of course). The same goes for skirt-lengths, position of waist and silhouette - some things really do look better on some than on others.

The purpose of modern style is to make designers and models look good, not actual women. And the contemporary fixation on designer branding ensures that there are no feasible alternatives in the stores for women who refuse to play their game. Thus, vintage, or better yet, sewing your own.

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

I agree that SOME can pull off that look but I certainly wouldn't even want to try it. I'd be walking along bent over to keep gawking at those things. Plus-fours are definitely not for me.

"Please tell Father: Why can't I wear short trousers too?"
"Your are still too young for them. Wait until you get older"

(The rest of the text explains the joke. Another proof zee germans just don't have any humour.)

 

[nihil]

Funny. My girlfriend, who is very much into vintage fashion and very capable of making her own clothes, really dislike the style from after ww1 and up until Dior's New Look. She often refer to it as baggy, shapeless floral dresses that does nothing good for the complete image. And I tend to agree. It's a bit of a shame really, as I think mens fashion had quite a high point in the 30s, and I dislike (in general) post ww2 male fashion. So we often end up, for special occasions, with her looking very Belle Epoque, and me looking more 30s/40s. Bit of a clash, but it's not like either of us try to recreate a certain period. We just wear what we like, and combine as we see fit. Old and modern, who cares, as long as it looks good

In regard to the topic at hand. I can't think of anything outright that I wouldn't wear, given the right context. But it's very much dependent on how the period is defined. I like the straw boater, but can't see myself wearing one. Perhaps I lack the required context or occasion. Perhaps the top hat - Here in Denmark, its so connected to H.C. Andersen, that I don't think it would be possible to wear one without half the street shouting that name at you...I actually even got that comment wearing a 50s fedora. The lack of education is certainly a timeless problem ^_^

 

[tonyb]

There was a time when I wouldn't wear a hat with a ribbon wider than 6 lignes or a brim narrower than 2 5/8 inches. I went through a spell when I wouldn't wear brown shoes, for some silly reason even I have difficulty recalling at this point.

My tastes are much more ecumenical these days. Being a touch on the vain side, I don't mind standing out from the crowd a bit, but anything that comes across costumey, no matter who's wearing it, makes me squirm. Still, some people can pull off looks others can't, as has already been noted in this and numerous other threads. If only people could see themselves as others see them, eh?

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

@ nihil:
Oh I wouldn't say that. Yes, the 1920s had a dropped waistline and no curves. But 30s?

Quite the opposite. The 1930s had a very feminine silhouette for women. The waistline was at the natural waist, close fitting and the shoulders not exaggerated (at the first half of the 30s.)
The New Look may be even more houreglass-ish (not to mention the corsets of the Belle Epoque) but not at all shapeless

 

[Amy Jeanne]

Vintage I don't wear: anything with a circle skirt. Makes me feel like I should be performing in a play somewhere. Do they look pretty? OH YEA! Do other gals look good in them? Yup. I probably look good in them, too, but I just don't like the way they make me feel. It ends up wearing me.

 

[sproily]

"Please tell Father: Why can't I wear short trousers too?"
"Your are still too young for them. Wait until you get older"

(The rest of the text explains the joke. Another proof zee germans just don't have any humour.)

Is this a reference to the breeches tradition?

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

No. It is making fun of the new trend of wearing sportswear (like plus fours) in town. In 1931

Usually boys would wear short trousers until they are old enough to count as "young men" Then they would start wearing long trousers.
I think my mom (although she is not that old) told me it was because kids alway fall on their knees and would tear their trousers then...

In the joke this is reversed

 

[Widebrim]

Double-breasted suit coats. A great look on some men, they just don't work with my build. I look like a B-movie heavy.

Although I usually wear SB jackets, I love DB ones, but I can see your point.

Bowler hat, short trousers, Bullingdon uniform.

I agree with you on those, Edward, and plus fours...And I'm not sure about a straw boater, since that style is just so "antiquated" (and I know many of you gents will take umbrage with that expression and rationale :eusa_doh.