For Wearing 'Golden Era' Vintage, Are Men Socially Castigated More than Women?

[Philip Adams]

Well said. I think the modern generation equates "empowerment" with "self-debasement."

I have to agree with you on that one.

There have been times when I've had to ask the young men and women in my team to dress in a way that is more suited to office work and less to 'Saturday morning at the supermarket'. They just don't seem to get what I'm saying.

 

[Feraud]

Meanwhile, whenever male celebrities are discussed, it seems to be very much appreciated when they're dressed up and wearing classic clothing, rather than jeans & a sports jersey.

So I must say, I personally feel that women have it more difficult.

Is there a "classic style" for women? Are there clothing that women wear and people will express an appreciation because it connotes something lacking today?

 

[LizzieMaine]

I always think of women's "classic style" as being the way upper-class Northeastern WASP women dressed -- expensive but understated, quality construction, timeless designs. Think the stuff they used to sell in the Talbots catalog before it became a mall store -- tailored suits and skirts, simple blouses and sweaters, leather shoes. You could still go to a job interview in an outfit like that and not raise an eyebrow.

 

[C-dot]

I think you nailed it, Lizzie. Many women today see the aforementioned "classic style" as aging, though.

If you wear something in black with few accessories, you can't really go wrong.

 

[ButteMT61]

Dunno. The new Queen-to-be seems to have made dressing well cool again from what I read. It happened some with Lady Di, and it often takes a leader than can bridge class with cool to pull it off. Either way, I like it, so I hope it does continue...

 

[C-dot]

Dunno. The new Queen-to-be seems to have made dressing well cool again from what I read.

I read that in some places, but in many others I read that she dresses like an old lady. [huh] I don't think so, and I too hope it takes.

 

[Deco-Doll-1928]

To be honest, I think it might be both. Although it really depends where you are at. When you are at an event, you are more likely to find people that admire your outfit. When you go somewhere else, people look at you and go, "Where did you come from?" I had a man come up to me one time when I was eating at the Queen Mary (this was during the Art Deco Festival last year) asking me, "What's with all the people dressed up?" lol I will say this though, I think women are much harder on other women.

When I've dressed up semi-casual and I wear a vintage hat with my outfit. Lots of people will notice it and smile about it. I almost always get a positive comment on them. I had one at a gas station (and older man commented on it), I had a lady comment on one when I was eating (she kind of scared me, but she stopped and said, "I love your hat! Where did you get it?!!" lol). I went over to my uncle and aunt's house and I was wearing one of my hats and my aunt and her sisters loved my hat. A lady at a shop in Long Beach noticed one of the hats I was wearing. Each time, I was wearing a different hat and I was with different people or by myself.

 

[Deco-Doll-1928]

I read that in some places, but in many others I read that she dresses like an old lady. [huh] I don't think so, and I too hope it takes.

I don't think so either. I think most of the time what she wears looks classy and lovely. I was watching the local news here and they say partly because of the Royal Wedding, hats might be making a come back. Although they always predict somethings going to come back and it never does.

In the piece they were interviewing this lady that had started her own hat shop here in LA. I don't know if I cared too much for the hats they showed in the piece! lol I'll stick to vintage.

 

[ButteMT61]

Only so much she can do...but it's something. "Old lady" labels don't surprise me given the tasteless dress that passes for fashion...

 

[Tomasso]

but in many others I read that she dresses like an old lady. [huh]

There's no accounting for taste. The consensus appears to be that she is properly turned out for function in life, something her detractors either fail to comprehend or ignore.

 

[Chas]

I was walking up the street some time ago, wearing two-toned spectators, black fleck 1940's pants with a jacket (can't remember which) and a newsboy - a guy drove past, yelling out the window - "Hey, Rude Boy!!".

I wasn't trying to look as one, but I sort of was one (still am?) back in my salad days. I took it as a sincere compliment.

[video=youtube;cntvEDbagAw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cntvEDbagAw[/video]

 

[C-dot]

I was walking up the street some time ago, wearing two-toned spectators, black fleck 1940's pants with a jacket (can't remember which) and a newsboy - a guy drove past, yelling out the window - "Hey, Rude Boy!!".

I'm surprised he can drive a car with such bad eyesight - Case in point.

 

[Travis Lee Johnston]

The "rude boy" look as I remember it, was closer to how the Specials looked in their prime. I remember seeing guys that were like that and actually listened to reggae. Whole different story these days. Like when you use to see a guy with a pompadour.

 

[C-dot]

The "rude boy" look as I remember it, was closer to how the Specials looked in their prime. I remember seeing guys that were like that and actually listened to reggae. Whole different story these days. Like when you use to see a guy with a pompadour.

The Specials are ska, though - Weren't/aren't the kinds that listen(ed) to ska dressing a bit differently?

 

[Travis Lee Johnston]

It was the same thing around these parts anyway.

 

[Rudie]

The transition from ska to rocksteady to reggae was gradual over a period of about four years. Rocksteady came up in 1966 and in 1968/69 gave way to early reggae. Most Jamaican superstars like Derrick Morgan, Prince Buster, Desmond Dekker, Alton Ellis were active proponents of all three styles. I don't think their fans changed their way of dressing just because some guys slowed down the pace and shifted the emphasis from horns to bass.

 

[C-dot]

The transition from ska to rocksteady to reggae was gradual over a period of about four years. Rocksteady came up in 1966 and in 1968/69 gave way to early reggae. Most Jamaican superstars like Derrick Morgan, Prince Buster, Desmond Dekker, Alton Ellis were active proponents of all three styles. I don't think their fans changed their way of dressing just because some guys slowed down the pace and shifted the emphasis from horns to bass.

Makes sense lol I'm a bit ignorant about that time period of music. Thanks!

 

[Undertow]

...Try Waterloo, Iowa (where my dad's family is from).

My lady and I have discussed this phenomenon briefly.

When I leave the house and go to the grocery store, order some meat, pick up some eggs and milk, and go home, people see me as an eccentric gentleman and they politely give me dirty looks, while muttering, "What a ___[enter anything you like], and I bet he thinks he's important. Stupid [repeat]"

When my lady accompanies me in her vintage clothing, I suddenly receive well-intentioned (albeit a bit coarse) compliments, or at least positive reactions of surprise, "Are you two in a play?" or "You both remind me of my grandparents," or, "You two look so nice!"

I think a man in vintage, or vintage style clothing appears out of context; especially if he is a younger man. He seems a bit eccentric, maybe even arrogant. When a lady in similar style accompanies, the context it provided and people slap their inner-foreheads and say, "Aha! I get it - they're both eccentric weirdos, but they look so good!"

fftopic:
Marc, if you're in IA for a stretch you should PM me. I'm guessing Alex and EJBHats would be happy to meet you, too. We're all fine upstanding (if not a bit foppish) Iowan men. I have yet to meet Fletch (some day we shall run out for brews, sir) and he lives here as well.

 

[BigFitz]

I don't know. I've seen some statements in some "mens" magazines such as "one pair of feet, one pair of shoes". Apparently, if you own more than a couple pair of shoes, you are too finicky and particular to be a "real" man and if you "dress" up you are too concerned about your look to be considered manly (with a certain assumption about your masculinity blurring between the lines). I don't agree, but that's the vibe I get.

 

[Fletch]

I make sure I don't take fastidious care of my non-dress shoes. They draw much less attention that way.

In dressy situations, it's part of the look. You stand or fall on that, not the shoes alone.