Comments You Get When You Dress Vintage

[klind65]

I definitely see why it could be a compliment. Ivana Trump was often ridiculed int the tabloid, but she is an attractive Lady.

Wow, thanks for the photos. The plum dress needs some waist cinching and some skirt lengthening in my opinion to better compliment Mrs. Trump's fine figure. The black number suits her better I think. When she came into Suzanne's she was also wearing black -a pantsuit, if memory serves.
P.S. Love the shoes she's wearing with the plum dress - they look like the pumps popular in the 50's but since I doubt she buys vintage, I'd hazard a guess that they're Christian Loboutain, or Jimmy Choo, anyway they're really flattering to the leg.

 

[LisaFreemontSt]

My immediate family loves my rockabilly/ vintage style but my extended family (cousins, aunts etc) tends to talk negatively about it behind myback...saying I look like I'm in costume all the time, etc. They have never said anything like that directly to me but they never pay me compliments of any kind. I think they feel that if the compliment me AT ALL, the are 'supporting' my decision to wear vintage style clothing....sigh.

My cousin did make this statement to me, however,when she saw a modern psychobilly hairstyle I did on my channel:
'I really like this. It looks like the era but w/out crossing that fine line of looking like you're in costume'.
Was that backhanded or what? LOL

 

[Countess]

Out today, a lady approached me and said to my five year old daughter: "Doesn't your Mummy look like a princess. Wow!"

To which my daughter replied: "I look like a princess too" and pouted

 

[C-dot]

They have never said anything like that directly to me but they never pay me compliments of any kind. I think they feel that if the compliment me AT ALL, the are 'supporting' my decision to wear vintage style clothing....sigh.

Too bad! I have a cousin like that aswell.

They're just jealous because they don't have the courage to be "in costume" everyday

 

[J.L. Picard]

Wow, thanks for the photos. The plum dress needs some waist cinching and some skirt lengthening in my opinion to better compliment Mrs. Trump's fine figure. The black number suits her better I think. When she came into Suzanne's she was also wearing black -a pantsuit, if memory serves.
P.S. Love the shoes she's wearing with the plum dress - they look like the pumps popular in the 50's but since I doubt she buys vintage, I'd hazard a guess that they're Christian Loboutain, or Jimmy Choo, anyway they're really flattering to the leg.

Great eye Klind 65!

I totally agree with you, the black number suits her much better. It gives her "silhouette" a much more youthful and energetic look.

As far as the shoes you are right on target..."Quel Talent!"

 

[zendy]

Out today, a lady approached me and said to my five year old daughter: "Doesn't your Mummy look like a princess. Wow!"

To which my daughter replied: "I look like a princess too" and pouted

That's hilarious!

 

[dgenevieve]

I think they feel that if the compliment me AT ALL, the are 'supporting' my decision to wear vintage style clothing....sigh.

There are much worse things you could be into! It's not like you have a substance abuse problem... you just love vintage!

I love your videos, btw! I've been a subscriber for a few months now.

 

[swinggal]

I think I finally managed the bad story to end all of them.

I was on a date not too long ago and I was in an orange base with black, grey, red and teal plaid on it (it sounds hideous I know), a black fitted women's babydoll tee and peeptoed heels. I had my hair sort of done sorta retro (more 60s then 50s however). Rockabilly lite, in other words. I got up to powder my nose, and was followed into the ladies room by not one but THREE women.

All of them were in sweats/pj pants and torn, stained beer tee shirts. I only mention this because of the following:

#1 "What the @#$% is wrong with you?"
Me: arch a brow at her and continue to wash my hands
#2 "You make us look bad!"
#3 "We don't dress like this here. What are you a hooker or something?"
Me: "...I have to dress like *that* on a date?"
#1 "We ALL do."
#2 "We don't need no skank trying to get our men."

At that point I started laughing. I can't exactly tell you the rest except I was threatened to get my derriere kicked. I gave them my address and told them I'd be home by 4 and they were welcome to come over and try, but really, if I broke a nail, I'd have to really get mad about it.

I've seen the three in other places since then, and I always smile, primp my hair, and do the really annoying finger rub/flick of the tip across the lipstick.

Was reading back through the pages and came across this post. How sad. Isn't it amazing that even when we are dressed in a really 'casual' vintage style - the way women would have dressed for shopping, everyday wear etc in the era - we get called 'overdressed' and are compared to hookers of all things?

I mean...what has the world come to when woman can't dress classily (with the extra trimmings like brighter lipstick, seamed stockings, a cool hairdo) and be feminine without being called a 'skank' by woman who have no clue??? or are actually the trashy ones themselves.

I can tell you, when I dress vintage to go out swing dancing (a -line dresses or skirts that are very figure flattering, with seamed sockings and my hair and make-up 30/40s style) that even though all the girls on the streets around me are almost half naked (dresses are more like belts) it's ME that men seem to stare at. And it's not in a 'nasty way' either. To me it seems like I am a refreshing sight for them. A lot of guys neever SEE a truly feminine look - they are all just bombarded with seeing women dressed like porn stars or constanly dressed asexually (jeans, -shirts etc).

What they seem to notice most is my stockings. I mean, it's funny because my skirts are knee length - but when i spin in a turn dancing and the skirt reveals a stocking top and hint of suspenders - you can see them gasp! It's so ironic really. All these women around me dressed in little more than a scrap of material in hope of getting man's attention - and there I am, dressed modestly and their guys are mesmerised by my seamed stockings and the bare skin in the muiddle of my thigh....hehe.

Crazy huh. I'm sure the girls make mean comments to us because we DO look pretty and we don't have to be half naked to do it....and maybe we gain more respect from these men because of it....and they wish THEY did.

 

[Helysoune]

Crazy huh. I'm sure the girls make mean comments to us because we DO look pretty and we don't have to be half naked to do it....and maybe we gain more respect from these men because of it....and they wish THEY did.

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Well said!!!

 

[LisaFreemontSt]

I agree, swinggal!

I had a relative tell me recently that she is irritated by the way I dress, that it is as if I WANT to call alot of attention to myself. But the funny thing is, no one could ever say I dress immodestly. So if I'm calling attention to myself , it's merely because I look different than other people. So I'm not sure why that would be irritating. Incidentally, there is not a single dress or article of clothing I wear that she would not wear, herself. The only difference is that she wouldnt fix her hair in vintage styles or wear flowers or winged eyeliner. So really, it's my ACCESSORIES that irritate her. lol

 

[klind65]

Was reading back through the pages and came across this post. How sad. Isn't it amazing that even when we are dressed in a really 'casual' vintage style - the way women would have dressed for shopping, everyday wear etc in the era - we get called 'overdressed' and are compared to hookers of all things?

I mean...what has the world come to when woman can't dress classily (with the extra trimmings like brighter lipstick, seamed stockings, a cool hairdo) and be feminine without being called a 'skank' by woman who have no clue??? or are actually the trashy ones themselves.

I can tell you, when I dress vintage to go out swing dancing (a -line dresses or skirts that are very figure flattering, with seamed sockings and my hair and make-up 30/40s style) that even though all the girls on the streets around me are almost half naked (dresses are more like belts) it's ME that men seem to stare at. And it's not in a 'nasty way' either. To me it seems like I am a refreshing sight for them. A lot of guys neever SEE a truly feminine look - they are all just bombarded with seeing women dressed like porn stars or constanly dressed asexually (jeans, -shirts etc).

What they seem to notice most is my stockings. I mean, it's funny because my skirts are knee length - but when i spin in a turn dancing and the skirt reveals a stocking top and hint of suspenders - you can see them gasp! It's so ironic really. All these women around me dressed in little more than a scrap of material in hope of getting man's attention - and there I am, dressed modestly and their guys are mesmerised by my seamed stockings and the bare skin in the muiddle of my thigh....hehe.

Crazy huh. I'm sure the girls make mean comments to us because we DO look pretty and we don't have to be half naked to do it....and maybe we gain more respect from these men because of it....and they wish THEY did.

Madame, vous avez raison! Remember the old aphorism, " Less is More?" I dress classically and conservatively, always with hats and gloves and I always try to emphasize my femininity quotient. I receive a great deal of appreciation from men - and always terribly respectfully..i.e..."Madam, "Beautiful Lady" etc... some even make the hat tipping gesture Now, I've also had several walk alongside me, smile and simply say, " Thank you". So, from my experience, I have concluded that many men must be "starved" for femininity! As you expressed it so clearly above, they have only a choice between meretricious vulgarity or amorphous asexuality...in other words, women tend to dress either as prostitutes displaying their wares or like ...well....like men! in baggy, boxy or straight lines which conceal their natural and beautiful hourglass shape.


I have spoken to some older male friends who fondly reminisce about the days when "girl watching" was a very stimulating and rewarding passtime. I suppose this has gone the way of the dinosaur but I'll leave that to the men to confirm or deny.

I sympathize with the men and can imagine how they feel. After all, we females have a similar problem today with the paucity of well-dressed men. These fellows who go about with their shirttails hanging out of their trousers give a new meaning to the phrase, "dress shirt" wearing it as if it were a dress! ( I credit Edward with first having made that observation! ) I daresay, I'm starved for comely male attire - and shoes, especially wingtips!


Remember the Victorian Age when an ankle or shoulder could create palpitations? It was the power of mystery, "allure", which was so delicious and created a romantic tension which I guess is all but gone today. Everyone knows that mystery creates much more interest and excitement than certainty.


But yes, I wholeheartedly agree with you and would advise you simply to smile and ignore the people by whom you feel you are less than well-received and feel rewarded and strong in the certainty that you are providing the starving masses with some much needed beauty and allure!

 

[*martini*time*]

Madame, vous avez raison! Remember the old aphorism, " Less is More?" I dress classically and conservatively, always with hats and gloves and I always try to emphasize my feminine quotient. I receive a great deal of appreciation from men - and always terribly respectfully..i.e..."Madam, "Beautiful Lady" etc... some even make the hat tipping gesture Now, I've also had several walk alongside me, smile and simply say, " Thank you". So, from my experience, I have concluded that many men must be "starved" for femininity! As you expressed it so clearly above, they have only a choice between meretricious vulgarity or amorphous asexuality...in other words, women tend to dress either as prostitutes displaying their wares or like ...well....like men! in baggy, boxy or straight lines which conceal their natural and beautiful hourglass shape.


I have spoken to some older male friends who fondly reminisce about the days when "girl watching" was a very stimulating and rewarding passtime. I suppose this has gone the way of the dinosaur but I'll leave that to the men to confirm or deny.

I sympathize with the men and can imagine how they feel. After all, we females have a similar problem today with the paucity of well-dressed men. These fellows who go about with their shirttails hanging out of their trousers give a new meaning to the phrase, "dress shirt" wearing it as if it were a dress! ( I credit Edward with first having made that observation! ) I daresay, I'm starved for comely male attire - and shoes, especially wingtips!


Remember the Victorian Age when an ankle or shoulder could create palpitations? It was the power of mystery, "allure", which was so delicious and created a romantic tension which I guess is all but gone today. Everyone knows that mystery creates much more interest and excitement than certainty.


But yes, I wholeheartedly agree with you and would advise you simply to smile and ignore the people by whom you feel you are less than well-received and feel rewarded and strong in the certainty that you are providing the starving masses with some much needed beauty and allure!

:eusa_clap Couldn't have said it better myself. :eusa_clap

 

[klind65]

I agree, swinggal!

I had a relative tell me recently that she is irritated by the way I dress, that it is as if I WANT to call alot of attention to myself. But the funny thing is, no one could ever say I dress immodestly. So if I'm calling attention to myself , it's merely because I look different than other people. So I'm not sure why that would be irritating. Incidentally, there is not a single dress or article of clothing I wear that she would not wear, herself. The only difference is that she wouldnt fix her hair in vintage styles or wear flowers or winged eyeliner. So really, it's my ACCESSORIES that irritate her. lol

I have always thought that if I ever encounter a hostile reception ( and thankfully, I never have) I would smile and say one of two things: " Judge not that ye be not judged" or " Live and Let Live". The former I know may or may not be to your taste, depending on your ontological orientation, but I feel they both get one's point accross without generating more ill-feeling.
I am sure that you look beautiful! Keep it up.

 

[Helysoune]

This is almost the exact same thing I voiced in my blog yesterday. I was talking about how I revived my vintage look and that my mister is definitely pleased with the changes recently and I can't say I blame him.

I can see how my appearance can be a credit to him, especially this far along with our little Cupcake. I take special notice these days of other pregnant women and their clothing, and not only have we as a society in general forgotten what it means to dress with dignity, there is certainly a distinct lack of grace and femininity in maternity clothing these days. I've wondered why I see women wearing some of the stuff they are and couldn't find an explanation until I went shopping.

Recent trips to three of the big box stores showed very, very disappointing offerings in the maternity department. Wal-Mart had a sign suspended from the ceiling that said maternity, but beneath it all I could find was regular lingerie and sleepwear. The sales clerk said they don't actually stock maternity clothes at the moment, but there might be something in the clearance racks - I couldn't find anything. Target had the largest selection, but it was all overpriced, cheaply made and generally hideous. Meijer had a single rack of jeans, shorts and some shirts, all of which were very masculine in cut and detail. It was at this point that I got disgusted, bought a box of tissues because I was literally sobbing over the abysmal lack of decent attire, and went home.

On finding this out, it's no darn wonder that women are stuffing themselves into their pre-pregnancy clothes as long as possible, even if their bellies hang out, the seams strain and the hems of tops, dresses and skirts slope up from the back at a 45 degree angle. It's because no one in their right mind would pay for the drek the stores are trying to foist on us! They'd rather filter through their regular clothes than waste money on the pitiful rags out there. Who's designing this trash anyway? Certainly no one who's ever been pregnant, because they'd know you already feel rotten half the time anyway from the symptoms, so being forced to wear shapeless, mannish garbage is going to do less than nothing for your attitude and self-esteem. It's almost like we're to believe that motherhood is shameful, that fertility is dirty. I refuse to buy into this androgenous view!!!

So when I look down and see the sweep of homemade skirt falling over my big belly, I smile. When I slip the last clip into my pincurls at night, I smile. When I blot my lipstick and pronounce myself ready to face the day, I smile. In doing so, I am thanking God that He made me a woman! I'm not flaunting my body for all to see, but I'm not hiding my femine nature. I'm not swathed head to toe in black drapery, but I've got covered what's for Murphy's eyes only. And while I am very physically comfortable and unconfined in my vintagesque gear, I don't look frumpy or slovenly. In fact, the ladies at the OB never fail to comment that I look wonderful or they can't believe I'm wearing heels at seven months pregnant (nevermind they're only about an inch and a half and sturdy).

"I'm a girl and by me that's only great! I am proud that my silhouette is curvy, that I walk with a sweet and girlish gait with my hips kind of swively and swervy..."

 

[Inky]

This is not so much a comment when I dress vintage - but a surprising and unexpected request from a chum...

I am going to a "family day" tour of our nuclear facility (one of only two operational plants in california) with a casual male friend who works there that knows my inner geek really wants to see the places we mere mortals rarely see.

So this tour has a dress code of slacks and closed flat shoes (hello saddle shoes!). He says to me - um, you know you have to wear pants and normal shoes, right..hahaha, funny, okay yes i know. THEN he says - um, it would be really cool if you could still dress normal like yourself, you know, 40's girl.

hahaha, finally, that's NORMAL!

 

[SayCici]

This is not so much a comment when I dress vintage - but a surprising and unexpected request from a chum...

I am going to a "family day" tour of our nuclear facility (one of only two operational plants in california) with a casual male friend who works there that knows my inner geek really wants to see the places we mere mortals rarely see.

So this tour has a dress code of slacks and closed flat shoes (hello saddle shoes!). He says to me - um, you know you have to wear pants and normal shoes, right..hahaha, funny, okay yes i know. THEN he says - um, it would be really cool if you could still dress normal like yourself, you know, 40's girl.

hahaha, finally, that's NORMAL!

Aw, I think that is so sweet! Go all the way and do your hair up like Rosie.

 

[LisaFreemontSt]

"I'm a girl and by me that's only great! I am proud that my silhouette is curvy, that I walk with a sweet and girlish gait with my hips kind of swively and swervy..."

That's my theme song!!:eusa_clap

About retro maternity clothes...I really had fun during my last pregnancy (2007). I bought lots of stretchy wiggle dresses from PUGclothing and wore them to VIva Las Vegas that year. I also bought some 'basics' from Old Navy and Motherhood that were surprisingly easy to 'vintage-up' w/ only a few accessories. A pencil skirt w/a white button down, basic halter tops, tanks etc. I reveled in my heels, although I chose slightly shorter options. I had a BALL wearing my Lucky Lous.

My best investment thru the whole pregnancy, however, was the 'bella band'. It extended my pre-pregnancy jeans/pants/shorts until 8 months!

 

[Helysoune]

I'm definitely going to have to look for one of those then, as this little one's name is Bella. Makes it especially special!

 

[LisaFreemontSt]

I'm definitely going to have to look for one of those then, as this little one's name is Bella. Makes it especially special!

Oh! What a precious little name!:eusa_clap I may cry. How I need a little girl! It's 'my three sons' over here... Without the canned laughter.

 

[Lindabelle]

I loved what Swinggal had to say.I think men like women to look feminine and don't necessarily like girls showing too much skin. I work in a store and have received lovely compliments from both men and women on my hair and makeup. A young girl I was serving said "wow you look like you come from the time when they swing danced." Another fella said if I wasn't married he would be knocking at my door. lol. I often get the comment "Are you going somewhere after work?" I do get negative comments sometimes and strange looks,but the good comments far outweigh the bad.