Comments You Get When You Dress Vintage

[Puzzicato]

I really like Kat von D's look, but you don't have the slightest point of resemblance with her. The only thing that could trigger it is that you both have awesome eyebrows that really frame your faces, but they aren't even the same shape. You are spectacular in a totally different way.

 

[djd]

I wore a fedora and a vaguely vintage suit last night in Belfast - got stared a quite a bit but a couple of older chaps called out that they liked my hat. I was heading for a steam train trip from Belfast central station- great night with a jazz band, too much wine and food. I had a couple of people ask to have their pictures taken with me which was nice

 

[Miss sofia]

C-Dot - I totally agree with Puzzicato, i can't see the resemblance to KVD myself, but you are stunning regardless.

DJD - I saw the picture! You looked very dapper, i'm not surprised people wanted their photo taken with you!


Actually today i had some nice comments, i had on a late fifties lime and yellow watercolour silk dress, one of my faves with a lovely boat neck, also my trusted Dolly basket, quite a few older ladies stopped for a chat, actually it was more the basket that was the talking point, but that's cool, i like it when random items cause people to reminisce, anyhow apparently in the early sixties they were the must have accessory for the girl about town. Both old ladies told me that independently. Anyhow they were both very sweet and i felt rather good after, after having a pretty rubbish week all told.

 

[C-dot]

Gawsh, you ladies are sweeter than taffy!

DJD, I would have wanted my photo taken with you too, you're a real time warp!

I want a Dolly basket...

 

[djd]

Thanks C-Dot and Miss Sofia (and forgive me for butting into a Powder Room topic - it's not clear on the mobile version of the board)

C-Dot - I undersatnd the KVD thing. Whilst you look completely different you both have that burlesque vibe thing going on. It's a cool look.

 

[Miss sofia]

They seem to be rather scarce now having said that, you couldn't give them away a few years ago. If i see one online i'll let you know. I got mine on ebay. I have some much more intricate looking vintage baskets, but that style always gets loads of compliments strangely.

 

[Miss sofia]

Sorry i was rattling on about Dolly baskets....

You pipped me to the post DJD!

 

[Drappa]

I was on the tube in London last weekend, wearing a dress I made from a vintage pattern and a vintage bag. It was a hot and sticky day and really busy, so I was leaning against the wall and right beside me, squished like sardines in a tin, were three women who spoke German. They obviously had no way of knowing that I could understand them, but they walked in and complained about the rude English people pushing to get on the tube, etc. Then they looked around and one of them, who was standing right next to me close enough to be touching my arm, remarked that people all looked so crazy on the tube, like this granny here (me!) and then went on to talk about others. I was desperately trying to think of something clever to say in German in order to shame her for being so rude and presumptuous, but you know what it's like when you can't come up with anything and then it's too late. It still annoys me, but I am glad I grew up bilingual and knew early on not to assume that people in other countries won't understand your language.

 

[C-dot]

I was desperately trying to think of something clever to say in German in order to shame her for being so rude and presumptuous, but you know what it's like when you can't come up with anything and then it's too late.

I would've said something - anything at all - in German, like "excuse me," just so they know you understood them; They'd be mortified! I once heard a few women speaking in French about how one of my friends looked, and as soon as they said "Thank goodness no-one understands us," I leaned over and asked, in French, if they knew where the washroom was. The look on their faces

 

[HepKitty]

I would've said something - anything at all - in German, like "excuse me," just so they know you understood them; They'd be mortified! I once heard a few women speaking in French about how one of my friends looked, and as soon as they said "Thank goodness no-one understands us," I leaned over and asked, in French, if they knew where the washroom was. The look on their faces

I agree, that's the best way. Let them know you understand but maintain grace by saying something harmless. I've done that before too and the looks on their faces it totally worth it

 

[Louise Anne]

I agree HepKitty

You do not actually have to say any thing to them, just make eye contact with them and keep eye contact as long as possible ( not so you fall over or walk into some thing) and that will say every thing to them.
I had a young man who lived in the next street and shouted rude obscenities about my life style every time he was with his friends or G/F.

I could have said something but choose not to , so I just made eye contact every time I passed him even if he was on his own and did not look at any one else he was with.

He stopped doing it after a few weeks as he knew he get the stare

 

[Drappa]

^^It's true, I've done that before as well and in this case was planning on saying something when I left, but they got off before me. Oh well. My husband suggested telling them that in Germany it was considered rude to call people granny, but of course I didn't think of that.

 

[Deco-Doll-1928]

Often the people who complain the loudest are the ones that are the most unhappy with their own lives. Nothing warrants making a person feel bad by what they choose to wear. It's their own personal style. They can choose to accept it or deal with it.

For some people, looks are everything. It's stupid.

Sometimes when I wear something, my mom will comment, "That looks so old lady!" I know she never says that out of spite. I'll always defend myself and my choices by saying that, "It's looks fine." On most days though, my mom thinks I look fine. lol

However, sometimes I find that people that especially choose to wear vintage, sometimes gets the rudest of comments. I don't understand it. I guess that its more important to people to fit in and keep up with whatever trends that are going on. I guess if you don't follow those norms people get scared and it makes them nervous.

I remember I was channel surfing one time and there happen to be this stupid talk show program like Jerry Springer on. The mother that was featured on the show with her daughter, was wearing these terribly inappropriate "sexy" attire. The daughter was wearing her 1950s look with the cat eye glasses and everything. What surprised me the most watching that was the negative reaction to the daughters outfit by an audience member in which there was all this cheering and the mother was even clapping about it.

I thought to myself, isn't it important to dress like a lady than to look trashy? I feel bad for women that feel the need to wear sexy clothing because they feel that the guy will like them better.

Also, I'd also like to mention that it is so incredibly rude of people to say something bad about a person in another language thinking that they will never understand it. Unfortunately, I don't speak another language, but if that happened to me, I would have really been very upset and hurt by that. Sometimes you don't have to understand what people are saying when they are making fun of you. You can tell by facial expressions a lot of the time.

So a big thumbs down to those German women. I think other good German tourists would not be so happy with them either. It makes their country look bad. I feel that especially if you are a visitor to another country, you should act like you are a guest in someone's house. I've never been out of the country, but I have been to other states. While visiting them, I try to think of myself as an "unofficial ambassador" from my state. I'm representing the place that I live to other people and leaving a good impression is very important.

 

[C-dot]

I've never been out of the country, but I have been to other states. While visiting them, I try to think of myself as an "unofficial ambassador" from my state. I'm representing the place that I live to other people and leaving a good impression is very important.

OT: When I visit the US of A, Americans seem to think its "cute" that I'm Canadian, especially the further south I go lol

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Also, I'd also like to mention that it is so incredibly rude of people to say something bad about a person in another language thinking that they will never understand it. Unfortunately, I don't speak another language, but if that happened to me, I would have really been very upset and hurt by that. Sometimes you don't have to understand what people are saying when they are making fun of you. You can tell by facial expressions a lot of the time.

So a big thumbs down to those German women. I think other good German tourists would not be so happy with them either. It makes their country look bad. I feel that especially if you are a visitor to another country, you should act like you are a guest in someone's house. I've never been out of the country, but I have been to other states. While visiting them, I try to think of myself as an "unofficial ambassador" from my state. I'm representing the place that I live to other people and leaving a good impression is very important.

Every now and then some restaurant or retail chain, especially here in California where English is very often not the primary language of many of the employees, will stir up a controversy by implementing an English Only policy. The purpose for such a policy is for precisely the reason that Deco-Doll has articulated.

Then on a humorous note concerning tourists from other countries and attire. I live not too far from Disneyland and when I go down Harbor Boulevard or Katella Avenue I can readily spot visitors from Europe by their leather jackets and/or sweaters. A somewhat non-native attire here in Southern California -- though I do wear a leather jacket in the winter.

 

[Deco-Doll-1928]

I like sweaters.

I just wanted to clarify that I don't want to imply by my earlier comments that I would would be against anybody being able to speak in their native tongue here. I love to hear different languages spoken. My whole point was to say, "Be nice." Where ever you may be, where ever you come from, or what ever language you may speak.

Like Thumper says in Bambi, "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all." That's not only in English, but Spanish, French, German, Japanese, etc.

But, must importantly please don't say something bad about the person in front of their face, thinking that they won't understand your language. It's just mean.

I had to re-read my previous comment, because I got a bit worried that it came off wrong.

I have to admit that I am a little sensitive about these issues because I like to think the best in people and I like people to be nice to each other. There's way too much negativity on this planet.

 

[Deco-Doll-1928]

OT: When I visit the US of A, Americans seem to think its "cute" that I'm Canadian, especially the further south I go lol

I am so sorry! I didn't quite understand what OT stood for until I looked it up. I have the tendency to do that sometimes. I'll shut up now. It was way too hot today and I am really tired.

 

[Puzzicato]

I was on the tube in London last weekend, wearing a dress I made from a vintage pattern and a vintage bag. It was a hot and sticky day and really busy, so I was leaning against the wall and right beside me, squished like sardines in a tin, were three women who spoke German. They obviously had no way of knowing that I could understand them, but they walked in and complained about the rude English people pushing to get on the tube, etc. Then they looked around and one of them, who was standing right next to me close enough to be touching my arm, remarked that people all looked so crazy on the tube, like this granny here (me!) and then went on to talk about others. I was desperately trying to think of something clever to say in German in order to shame her for being so rude and presumptuous, but you know what it's like when you can't come up with anything and then it's too late. It still annoys me, but I am glad I grew up bilingual and knew early on not to assume that people in other countries won't understand your language.

A friend of ours was on the tube some years ago, and a girl was talking to her boyfriend in Afrikaans, criticising a woman nearby. As Gav went to get off he said to her - in English so everyone could understand - that ACTUALLY the other woman was much more attractive than her.

It is so presumptuous to assume - in London! that no one is going to be able to understand you! I don't speak another language well enough to come up with a snappy response, but I understand Italian and German well enough to know when people are being rude.

 

[Miss sofia]

I know, you would think in a city people might twig that there might be the odd person who understands what they are saying.

I speak Italian and French, i love it when people come in my shop and maybe have a moan. The look on their face is always priceless when i say something to them even if it's good morning or what have you. (It doesn't happen often though thank goodness).

 

[adouglasmhor]

German (not fantastic just now lack of practice) Urdu, and Punjabi (I often catch Asian men out because they don't expect a "gorah" to know what they are saying).