Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Comments You Get When You Dress Vintage

Katinka von K.

A-List Customer
Messages
316
Location
Germany
I got one "You look hot!" and several "fancy"s just because of my hair and make up the other day. Not that bad considering that I fought with a totally f-ed up set for more than an hour.
 

ThePowderKeg

One of the Regulars
Messages
130
Location
New Hampshire, USA
I work in a technology park packed full of computer geeks, who tend to be shy...I don't get many comments from strangers on days I dress vintage, but I get a lot of nods, smiles, and doors held for me, by men of all ages.

My boss compliments me on my vintage/vintage inspired clothes. It's a workplace where a lot of people wear jeans or dress casually every day, so the people who don't tend to stand out.
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,116
Location
London, UK
We have an Irish Female Singing Artist here who loves to dress vintage 1950's and she looks fantastic! Her name is Imelda May and she is from Dublin. I am not sure if any of ye have heard her great Rockabilly Blues music, but I think ye might love it!?

http://youtu.be/_cKPwAEz7_8

http://youtu.be/jxj5wlXY9No

http://youtu.be/zcV_jZUTtU8

Oh, yes. Know her well - best new musical thing to emerge in a long time. Lovely to see somebody so dow to earth, not to mention talented, break through in today's music business. She deserves it.... even if I do miss seeing her and the boys with ten other folks in a small London pub! ;)
 

Tuesday_Next

Familiar Face
Messages
69
Location
Kansas City
I hate to hear about the crappy reactions people have expressed towards lovelies like Tatum, Sweetheart of the Rodeo and Annie Pancake. I have had the urge to express my distaste for the poor showing certain "modern dressers" have made lately and imagine their feeling if I did.

I had a reverse occasion this week though. I dressed in modern clothes for the first time in several months (some of my repro pieces with a more contemporary skirt) and I felt terrible all day. I didn't feel like myself and I felt even worse when people said I looked "cute" in my outfit -- what's wrong with what I normally wear?!!? I was so disgusted with myself that I put the modern skirt in a pile for charity and swore to myself I would never wear it again. Even with the possibility of scorn and ridicule, I'd rather be vintage than plain!
 

cookie

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,927
Location
Sydney Australia

Gracie Lee

A-List Customer
Messages
386
Location
Philadelphia
Gracie, where did you go?? You must take me.... ;)

I'm sure you looked adorable! Was it the red dress I love that you wore a few weeks ago in Orlando?

It's the Wednesday night swing dance (with lessons before, thank God ;)) at the Gulfport Casino (not a casino). I hadn't mentioned it b/c I thought it might be too far for you to drive on a weeknight, but if you can make it, I'd love it! Bonus lesson starts at 6, main lesson at 7, dancing from 8-11, but I bugged out about 10 since it's a work night for me. And yep - same red dress... it's comfy, washable, and in good enough condition I wasn't worried about tearing it. Man I'm glad I bought it!
 

Puzzicato

One Too Many
Messages
1,843
Location
Ex-pat Ozzie in Greater London, UK
We have an Irish Female Singing Artist here who loves to dress vintage 1950's and she looks fantastic! Her name is Imelda May and she is from Dublin. I am not sure if any of ye have heard her great Rockabilly Blues music, but I think ye might love it!?

http://youtu.be/_cKPwAEz7_8

http://youtu.be/jxj5wlXY9No

http://youtu.be/zcV_jZUTtU8

I love Imelda May - but I am not sure Imelda May appreciation belongs in this thread! Did you mean to put it somewhere else?
 

ÉIREGOBRÁCH1922

New in Town
Messages
39
Location
Kilkenny
I love Imelda May - but I am not sure Imelda May appreciation belongs in this thread! Did you mean to put it somewhere else?

It is not an appreciation, as such! Sorry, I was just stating how she dresses vintage 1950's! That I think she and her band look great in it (and her music), but I have often heard others on tv and radio question why she bothers wear those clothes and hairstyles!? Some people admit that she has a great voice, but then on the other hand say, that why does she not do more modern pop music and then she would be more popular! It proves that dressing and singing vintage you can be looked down on or seen as odd by others regardless of your talent or personality.

I only added to links for those here who had not heard of or seen Imelda May. That is all!
 

cherry lips

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,949
Location
sweden
Yesterday I got Jackie Kennedy (which was not a first), and Greta Garbo (which was!). I don't think I look like Garbo, but I was wearing a turban haha!
 

Mojito

One Too Many
Messages
1,371
Location
Sydney
Oh, yay Garbo! I love that one!

I've had a few Louise Brookses (purely because of haircut and colour - I look nothing like her) and a Wallace Simpson (which I wasn't overly pleased with).

I had an unpleasant experience recently - we'd been drinking and somehow the conversation turned in a certain direction, and my friend told me about a chap who evidently disapproved of me at one of the Art Deco events. he was outside having a cigarette with her, and said "So, tell me...does Mojito only smile when she's having her photo taken?"

It hurt a bit as I have severe clinical depression, but I do make an effort to be bright and cheerful with people at work and in public places. I can't do it all the time, but I'm usually having a wonderful time at Deco events. But when I'm thoughtful - even if I'm happy - I can look very solemn. I've had people in the street say out of cars "Cheer up, love, it might never happen"...and that was when I was in a good mood! I do try to smile in photos that people take at Art Deco events because I don't imagine they want me looking dour. But the implication that I was two faced or worse was rather painful.
 

cherry lips

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,949
Location
sweden
^Don't take his comment personally, it sounds like he wished you smiled at/ flirted with/ payed attention to/ him, which you didn't, with due cause. Most people who stare at me do it with awe and interest, but a few do it in a judging manner, which usually means they're jealous. This may also be the case with this non-gentleman. You're better then him!
 

Miss Golightly

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,312
Location
Dublin, Ireland
I got lots of great compliments when we were in NYC - I find that New Yorkers are very forthcoming with compliments and asking about your ensemble. I was in the Algonquin having a drink and when going down to the ladies this older man was coming up the very narrow stairs so I held back and he said "Thanks" and then a second later after looking at my 50's dress with crinoline he said "very cute!". The girls in Kate Spade loved my pink 60's shift dress and a lady in Greenwich village said to me "cute skirt" as a I passed by (this would never happen in Dublin - I don't think we are comfortable complimenting strangers). The nicest compliment came from a lady at "21" - she said she loved my 50's dress and said I looked like Vivien Leigh - I was so chuffed when she said that!
 

Miss sofia

One Too Many
Messages
1,675
Location
East sussex, England
Well between you and Miss Rue you have the Vivien Leigh look-alike angle covered!

Today we had a 1940's airshow in Rye and i got loads of compliments from people on my outfit, quite a few older folks complimented me on my get-up which was nice, including one old gent who said how lovely it was to see a lady dressed like a real lady, which was really sweet and made my day. Also two old ladies walking behind me, stopped me for a chat and said how nice it was to see seamed stockings, so we had a little chat and i felt rather invigorated.

One little girl asked if i was wearing a Meerkat and was a little upset when i told her it was a Mink tippett, although i would have thought she might have been more upset if i said it was a Meerkat! Kids eh?
 

rue

Messages
13,319
Location
California native living in Arizona.
I got lots of great compliments when we were in NYC - I find that New Yorkers are very forthcoming with compliments and asking about your ensemble. I was in the Algonquin having a drink and when going down to the ladies this older man was coming up the very narrow stairs so I held back and he said "Thanks" and then a second later after looking at my 50's dress with crinoline he said "very cute!". The girls in Kate Spade loved my pink 60's shift dress and a lady in Greenwich village said to me "cute skirt" as a I passed by (this would never happen in Dublin - I don't think we are comfortable complimenting strangers). The nicest compliment came from a lady at "21" - she said she loved my 50's dress and said I looked like Vivien Leigh - I was so chuffed when she said that!

I'm expecting pictures missy ;)

Well between you and Miss Rue you have the Vivien Leigh look-alike angle covered!

Awww.... thank you Miss Sofia :eek:
 

sportell

New in Town
Messages
30
Location
Germany
The gals at work are getting used to when I wear a dress. I work at an arts & craft store on a base in Germany, making frames for costumers. Fairly messy work when working with frame putty. So not conducive to pretty dresses. (I'm just super careful.) At first the gals would ask why I was dressed up. I'd state that I had just finished the dress the night before and had to wear it. At first the gals would be shocked that I made the dresses and hadn't bought them. Now they just like seeing what I've come up with. And these are gals in the 20-40 range. My peers, as I'm in my low 30s. And any time a customer or new employee asks why I'm dressed up, my coworkers tell them I made the dress and I make really nice clothes. :)
 

Bluebird Marsha

A-List Customer
Messages
377
Location
Nashville- well, close enough
When you dress nicely, it makes it so easy to be recognized from the crowd, Sportell. All your coworkers have to do to point you out to strangers is to tell them to look for the lady in the pretty dress. Not a bad way to stand out!

It does take so very little. I sort of work in a warehouse. (It's technically a cubicle farm in the mezzanine over the warehouse-but why quibble) Wearing a dress is not a good idea, especially if I like the dress :). So today I threw on white capri pants, a pink shirt, pink sneakers, and a pink pillbox hat. The day was spent being compared to Jackie Kennedy. This made me ridiculously happy!
 

sheeplady

I'll Lock Up
Bartender
Messages
4,477
Location
Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, USA
Today I met a very nice lady in an office on campus. She complimented my eyeglasses, and then we went on to talk for about 40 minutes about vintage things. I was so happy and excited to meet my first fellow vintage enthusiast face to face!
 
Last edited:

Forum statistics

Threads
109,667
Messages
3,086,323
Members
54,480
Latest member
PISoftware
Top