A teeny thing 'counter-vintage' about you?

[Quigley Brown]

In your vintage/golden era lifestyle is there something you may be hiding from others that is 'counter-vintage' (running contrary)? Me? I have very nice collection of Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole and big band albums, but I also own every LP put out by Kraftwerk...the German group that pioneered electronic music back in the 70s and who are considered the fathers of techno pop dance tunes. Last year I had to drop everything when I found out one week before that they would be in concert down in DC. I had no choice but to go. You probably can't tell from this photo, but these dapper 60-something year-old gentlemen were putting out some high-intensity thumping stuff from their laptop computers. Ain't that silly?

 

[jake_fink]

Clearly Kraftwerk still know how to rock. They should calm down, at their age.


There is much that is "coutner-vintage" in my fonds.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Everything about me is counter vintage.

 

[Cousin Hepcat]

In your vintage/golden era lifestyle is there something you may be hiding from others that is 'counter-vintage' (running contrary)?

Neat post, since I'm currently struggling to make the vintage things I like fit in with the modern things I like. Unfortunately they seem so opposite!

If I were in CA or NY where there were any significant number of folks I could "share the experience" with, I'd like to try going all out vintage for a while - house, car, clothes, diners, etc. Not the case.

So when I talked to folks I like around here around my age (mainly my classmates, all ladies, in bio-med nursing or grad school prerequisite classes), the nice "good" ones I really like talking to & am on same "wavelength" with are all into indie rock. I like a few of those bands a lot, but the lifestyles seem to me totally diametrically opposed in so many ways to vintage. Music, personal appearance, clothes (yes, sometimes there are the velour jogging suits & ipods!), ideals of what your house / pad should look like...

A conundrum, it is.

 

[Rosie]

I'm counter vintage in MANY ways. But, my modern likes settle in nicely with the vintage part of me. I was speaking with someone last night who was shocked because I have rotary phones in my house. lol He laughed, thinking it was the funniest thing. I explained that I have modern phones too, I just like the rotary ones better.

I love Ms. Fitzgerald (who doesn't know that by now) and other golden era artists but, at any given moment, Erykah Badu, Donnie, The Roots, Green Day, etc. will go blating out of my speakers. I'll bake some cookies and wear my cute apron doing it and then go have a huge political debate that leaves me hoarse. (these of course are just little examples) I'm varied like that as I'm sure most folk are.

Like Hepcat says, its kind of weird encountering other people who understand that or who "get it". Being in NYC, I havent' found many people like me .Once the words vintage, rotarty phone or lady-like come out of my mouth, I've been cast in stone seemingly without deviation.

 

[BellyTank]

Mr. Brown-

Why not listen to some Raymond Scott recordings and put the whole Kraftwerk thing into place in the vintage world, by association at least. Then they're more of an extrapolation of Scott's World of sound, rather than anything modern.

"Raymond Scott was definitely in the forefront of developing electronic music technology, and in the forefront of using it commercially as a-musician."
- Bob Moog, inventor of Moog synthesizers

"What can you say about a man who inspired cartoon melodies and bebop, invented Frank Zappa and electronic music, and still found time to work for-Motown?"
- Andy Partridge, songwriter & leader of XTC


"Raymond Scott is arguably the most well-known and influential unknown composer since the 16th-Century."
- Steve Schneider, author

http://www.raymondscott.com/

Anyway, those Kraftwerk guys ARE vintage.

"Wir fahr'n fahr'n fahr'n auf der Autobahn-
-fahr'n fahr'n fahr'n auf der Autobahn..."

As far as me having a counter-vintage foible- I still like Punk Rock and other noisy music.
Oh, and I support Rights for Women and 'Racial Minorities'

B
T

 

[Lauren]

Um. I'm mostly non-vintage.

If anything I probably am more "pre-vintage". My tastes in the fine arts lean more toward the mid 1700's-1910's. For fun I read classics (like pre 1910 novels). My favorite costume periods are the 1870's and the mid-late 1700's. I love classical music from the 1700's to the 1820's.

I like skateboarding and surfing. I like artsy hole in the wall cafe's with strage paint and colors. I like music from independant rock (Death Cab for Cutie, Rilo Kiley, etc...) to bizzare mixes of sounds (think something like Black Heart Procession or Portishead). I love current fashions, usually, including that stuff so often bashed on the runways. I love eurocars like the Smart car. I like Paul Frank t shirts with silly sayings on them. I like flip flops.

I guess I'm 1/3 "historical" (for lack of a better word), 1/3 modern, and 1/3 vintage.

Let's just say I'm a modern girl with vintage sensibilities.

 

[Cousin Hepcat]

I'm counter vintage in MANY ways. But, my modern likes settle in nicely with the vintage part of me. I was speaking with someone last night who was shocked because I have rotary phones in my house. lol He laughed, thinking it was the funniest thing. ... Green Day, etc. will go blating out of my speakers....

GOOD, nice to know there Are like minds out there. BTW Rosie, you think you get odd reactions to having rotary phones in your home... try having a 1949 jukebox. lol

When I was living just off campus in the apartment, That got some funny looks, but neighbors ended up always wanting to come over since it was stocked w/ a mix of old & new, even Mom thought it was a riot too, could've charged $5 a bottle Ya know, till the novelty wore off, when we did have so many folks coming through, did make me start thinking, I'd sure like to open a vintage-y "joint" someday, hmmm............ "Hep's Cafe Americain"

Like Hepcat says, its kind of weird encountering other people who understand that or who "get it". Being in NYC, I havent' found many people like me .Once the words vintage, rotarty phone or lady-like come out of my mouth, I've been cast in stone seemingly without deviation.

Hmmm, I thought NYC, CA, and DC were hotbeds of vintage-enjoying folks... (though, did swap some enlightening PMs with Root on that topic for CA that made me go "huh?" [huh] )

Swing High,
- Cousin Hepcat

 

[Lady Day]

Ahhhhhh Kraftwerk

Have you ever heard of this Quartet?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...3978/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-1645617-7855119?ie=UTF8

Its a classical cover album of their work. VERY VERY good. I guess that is sorta a transition. I listen to it often.

The music thing is a big gateway to the modern world for me. Like right now, Im 'trippin' cause I got Massive Attack (my Favorite Band!) tickets to see them in Berkley in September. I do plan on dressing vintage for the show

I have some modern convinces, an iPod I cant live without, and a cell phone I can. I work in animation, and sadly altho Im trained traditionally in that wacky craft called drawing, most of it is done digitally now so I gots to keep up with the Jones'. Bleck.

LD

 

[ITG]

For a start:
Love Huey Lewis and the News music
I crack whips, collect Star Wars and Indiana Jones props and toys
I wear flip flops occasionally (shoot me!)

 

[Miss Dottie]

Interesting question.

Sadly, I spend more time in non-vintage clothes than in, but I'm trying very hard to remedy that. Gets easier, by slipping on a nice vintage cardigan on some of my vintage inspired blouses. But sometimes after a tough day of work, nothing feels better than slipping on some yoga pants and a t-shirt.

The one thing that my sweetie and I would most like to remedy is the car situation. After we get through paying for this wedding, we are going to buy a nice vintage beauty of a car. Talk to Skillbilly about the details.

 

[Vanessa]

It'd be cool to say I dress vintage & live vintage everyday. . .but I don't.

I think I'd prefer, if someone were talking about my day to day fashions, saying that I was elegant or classic, even non-vintage. I love the Golden Era, but if I could get away with wearing a big, poufy, trimmed-to-death bustle gown circa 1874 every day. . .I would.

 

[TommySalieri]

I consider myself to be an even balance between "counter-vintage" and vintage.

I'm a technophile who's into the latest electronic and digital machines. I am very much into modern and concept cars. I also listen to modern rock bands (Green Day, Radiohead, James Blunt, Wallflowers) and electronic music (ATB, Tiesto, IIo, Motorcycle).

But I'm also an old fashioned guy who listens to music of bygone decades (90's, 80's, 60's ect.) and a vintage car enthusiast.

 

[jamespowers]

For a start:
Love Huey Lewis and the News music
I crack whips, collect Star Wars and Indiana Jones props and toys
I wear flip flops occasionally (shoot me!)

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Flip flops!?
Fortunately the Huey Lewis strikes a cord.

Regards,

J

 

[fortworthgal]

I'm an avid wearer of flip-flops. I live in Texas, people. Our high yesterday was something like 107. Give me a break.

I never wear them to work, out to dinner, and I certainly wouldn't wear them to meet the President, but for grocery shopping, running errands, etc. - sure. And I always coordinate them with the rest of my outfit.

 

[Rosie]

GOOD, nice to know there Are like minds out there. BTW Rosie, you think you get odd reactions to having rotary phones in your home... try having a 1949 jukebox. lol

When I was living just off campus in the apartment, That got some funny looks, but neighbors ended up always wanting to come over since it was stocked w/ a mix of old & new, even Mom thought it was a riot too, could've charged $5 a bottle Ya know, till the novelty wore off, when we did have so many folks coming through, did make me start thinking, I'd sure like to open a vintage-y "joint" someday, hmmm............ "Hep's Cafe Americain"

Hmmm, I thought NYC, CA, and DC were hotbeds of vintage-enjoying folks... (though, did swap some enlightening PMs with Root on that topic for CA that made me go "huh?" [huh] )

Swing High,
- Cousin Hepcat

That Green Day album is OFF THE CHAIN!!!!! (see, non-vintage speak right there) I don't have a record player anymore but I totally want that!

I want to open a cafe too, maybe we should collaborate.

And, yeah, I NEVER see anyone who dresses like me or even really "gets" my style of dress or the way I am. I was so surprised when I first found the Lounge that there were the number of NYers on here that there are. I once saw this guy dressed in knickers, riding a bike, he had a whole '20s thing going on, he circled back to wave at me and then he drove off. Rockabilly I see, (which I can do also) but straight Golden Era, nah uh.

 

[jamespowers]

I'm an avid wearer of flip-flops. I live in Texas, people. Our high yesterday was something like 107. Give me a break.

I never wear them to work, out to dinner, and I certainly wouldn't wear them to meet the President, but for grocery shopping, running errands, etc. - sure. And I always coordinate them with the rest of my outfit.

The flip-flopitis is spreading!

Regards,

J

 

[mikepara]

luckily..

...I wasn't born in 1905 or I'd be history. But If I was I'd have been the right age for the era I like most [and just missed serving in the Great War.] There wouldn't have been any distractions to being vintage as it would be just everyday life.

I however was born in the early 60's so have grown up to love PARTS of the fashion, music, politics, culture, and Arts from then until now.

I also love parts of the 20's through to the 50's aswell.

Thats a lot of influences just to tie yourself down to a single narrow decade to emulate.

I try [and don't always succeed]in buying items I LIKE. That goes for music, furniture, collectables and clothes . Regardless of how fashionable they were or are. If I do that I'll be happy.

Listening to music you don't like just because it fits your style is dumb. As is wearing clothes purely because they are vintage.

Not all things vintage are stylish. Kraftwork and DAF are.

 

[Rosie]

For a start:
Love Huey Lewis and the News music
I crack whips, collect Star Wars and Indiana Jones props and toys
I wear flip flops occasionally (shoot me!)

You crack whips? That is soooo cool. I think I might want to learn to do that.

 

[Lauren]

+1 for flip flop wearers. I have lots of different colors, too! (sorry, James!)