Handmade vintage price v/s Readymade vintage

[hotrod_elf]

I just went out and got fabric for my retro pattern. After all said and done I spent around $45. I didn't buy the most expencive fabric, what I got was even on sale. I guess I thought that making my own vintage clothes would be a little bit more cheaper than buying readymade vintage clothes. I guess if I compare to the bay I am getting somewhat of a deal. I'm still on the look out for that off the grid fabric store that is stuck in the past not only vintage fabrics but vintage prices.


Where do you get your fabric? (other than the bay)

 

[Amelie]

I think this thread might be what you are looking for

http://thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=14942&highlight=fabric

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

Yes, check out above thread.

Although I haven't yet started sewing, I have looked online and been to fabric stores. I think the best deals to be had are online.
Also, if you don't find what you're looking for in the above thread, you could always google search for "vintage fabric" or "vintage inspired fabric", I'm sure you've done this before, but just in case you hadn't

 

[hotrod_elf]

Thank you, I tried to find if there was a thread about fabrics but didn't come up with anything. I shall be educamated.

 

[Lady Day]

Well, as for the topic of making your own vintage, as to buying it, I find that making it, in the loooooooog run, is a bit of money saver.

Since most survived vintage is not in my size, and Im a stickler for fit, making my goodies is the best route for me. Once you find your place to shop, and have your collection of staple patterns (to make most of my clothing I use about 15 main patterns total) you will be able to whip out the garments in no time.

As for buying, I have found its a chance game. Being in the right place at the right time, IF you have the cash, is it overpriced...:eusa_doh:

But there are some items that you just wont be able to make

There will also be some items that you wil skip that are cute vintage, but you can make it with a cuter trim, or change the pocket...(speaking from experience).

Its a juggling act. Ive learned to get most of my jewelry from the vintage stores, and gloves as well, but I can whip out dresses and the like for a fraction of plus size vintage, and KNOW how it will fit

Hope I havent rambled, and hope it helps.

LD

 

[pretty faythe]

material

I usually get material at JoAnns or Wal-Mart. For example, today I went to get the goodies I need to make my extremely tall eight year old a dress for a pageant she is going to be in. I was going to get the pattern from wally world, then get the material from JoAnns, but wound up going the oppisite direction. I found a wonderful cream satin material at wa-mart for $1 dollar a yard, and since I couldn't find the thread and zipper that matched there I decided to wait and get the pattern at JoAnns when I got the other stuff. I wound up saving half the price on the pattern since JoAnns was having a sale on patterns and the pattern I wound up getting is even easier than the one I was going to get at Wal-Mart.

 

[NicolettaRose]

The only problem with me, is that ready made vintage isn't really "vintage". To me, there is something about wearing a authentic garment from an era to really feel like you are a part of living history. Authenitc vintage maybe more expensive to buy/maintain, but it is worth it to me.

 

[Lady Day]

The only problem with me, is that ready made vintage isn't really "vintage".

I beg to differ if you are using a vintage pattern and vintage fabric.

LD

 

[Elaina]

I'm also going to argue: how do you think the kmajority of women got their clothing? Espicially in the eras you love so much, more was homemade then store bought.

I recently made a 1920's shirt. G-grandma had the material, thread, pattern and buttons in a bag. Handwritten reciept, totalling 27 cents. Dated June 12, 1928. Made it on my 1926 treadle. Can't get any more vintage other then going and buying it.

 

[NicolettaRose]

I beg to differ if you are using a vintage pattern and vintage fabric.

LD

Yes, but it still was not made in that era, worn by people of that era, and survived to this era. I think people to do some amazing vintage recreations, but these items just don't have the history attached. Vintage clothing is more about clothing for me, its about having a piece of history, a relic from the era from which it came.

I won't even buy a recreation that uses a vintage pattern, and vintage fabric, if it goes on my body, I'd like to know my garment was once worn by a flapper dancing the charleston, a 1930's housewife who survived the Great Depression or a 1940's gal. Each garment I have is very speciel to me, I have some day dresses from the 1930's that are handmade, then the same person who made the dress went back and made repairs, they even rewove the fabric. Its a testement to what clothing meant to people back then and how precious each item was to these women.

I've talked to my grandparents, my grandfather is 100, and can remember the 20th in great detail. Today in someways the newer generations tend to glamourize eras like the 1920's-1940's, people dress up like flappers and "pinup girls", but in reality, my grandfather said that even a decade like the 1920's was extreamly hard to live in, and it was not until the 1950's that things got better.

That's why in my vintage clothing I don't focus on looking like a "glamerous flapper" or a "pinup", or any of those frankly overused sterotypes. There are so many people that wear the beaded, fringed dresses, or the cliche bleach blonde hair, and exposed thigh highs, looking more like they are out of a costume shop or a Gil Elvgrin picture.

I focus on the adverage girl, the housewife, the career girl, the real girl of those eras and my vintage wardrobe reflects that.

 

[RetroModelSari]

I allway keep my eyes open about fabric. There are like 2 sellers from the bay where I buy from, but just if it is a bargain and than there are 3-4 fabric stores I stop by regulary, esspecially when they sell out the fabric when the season changes.

I love ready-made vintage, but just if it is cheaper for me than to make things myself (my abilities to make are not that big, but when I see something I wanna make some day I save it in my "ideas"-folder until Iam able to make it and have a fabric to match the idea). So whatever is cute and cheap and in my size makes it´s way to me - the rest of it I kep in mind

 

[Lady Day]

NicolettaRose,

I dont want to play the 'Im more vintage than you are' game. We will just have to agree to disagree.

LD

 

[LizzieMaine]

Exactly -- there's room for all of us here. As Lady Day notes, there's a lot of us who do vintage repro -- some even using the same equipment and same techniques that our grandmothers did, and it's definitely a worthwhile alternative for those of us who rarely find originals in our size -- or who aren't comfortable subjecting original garments to daily wear and tear. I used to daily-wear a lot of original vintage myself, but once it wears out, it's gone -- so these days I tend to keep my originals for special occasions and wear my own home-sewn garments for every day.

That said, though, there *is* something special about a garment with a history -- whether you know exactly where it came from and who owned it originally, or whether you have to imagine it. That something so personal, fragile, and, ultimately, disposable, managed to survive decades and came down to us intact is really quite remarkable.

Oh, and to answer the original question, I get most of my fabric at Wal Mart -- I'm poor and it's very inexpensive, and they often have some nice vintage prints. Considering my grandmother never got her fabric anyplace fancier than Woolworth's (the Wal Mart of the 30s), I guess you could think of that as a vintage enough approach...

 

[pretty faythe]

Considering my grandmother never got her fabric anyplace fancier than Woolworth's (the Wal Mart of the 30s), I guess you could think of that as a vintage enough approach...

To be a little fftopic: I miss woolworths.....sigh...used to go there during lunch when I was in high school, used to have one at the Boulevard Mall to. The Blvd Mall Woolworth had a fallout shelter in it. Hmmm....Wonder if they left it there?

 

[hotrod_elf]

I didn't think I would start an aguement. I didn't think that there was a right and wrong. I was talking to my husband about it. He made a point that was right now. He build hot rods in hi spear time. He said it's all about the actual building of it, not going out and buying a 10,000 hot rod but taking that money and starting from scratch and taking pride in what you make. I would agree with what everyone has said. It's a balance of preserving the past in many ways. The art of sewing and those lost treasures with history to them.

 

[Fleur De Guerre]

To be a little fftopic: I miss woolworths.....sigh...used to go there during lunch when I was in high school, used to have one at the Boulevard Mall to. The Blvd Mall Woolworth had a fallout shelter in it. Hmmm....Wonder if they left it there?

We have a Woolies in every town! I guess the Woolworths of America and those of the UK have evolved separately - you certainly can't buy fabric in ours.

 

[NicolettaRose]

Lady Day, I wasn't arguing with you, I was just stating what I personally do, and my personal philosophies behind myself wearing vintage clothing which are really a offspring from my love of history, which does not at all dictate what I think others should do. I think people's reasons for wearing vintage clothing are so personal, and that everyone has thier own unique sense of style, and ways of dressing vintage. I mean look at all of the marvelous fashion sense that the ladies have here. Sorry if you thought I was arguing, your style is great

 

[Lauren]

Here's my thoughts- making reproductions is the best way to preserve the history of vintage clothing, so to me personally it is better to collect and study vintage clothing or wear clothing post 1930's because of their fragility. That way future generations get to see not only the designer pieces in museams, but the everyday homemade or ready made garments as well. Reproductions may not have been actually worn by people living back then, but people back then bought and made new frocks as well. It tears me to shreads to see historical clothing being destroyed by everyday use- it has a life span just like everything else

I think the cost about evens out if you know where and how to get things on a budget. Flea markets and estate sales are a great place to find actual vintage but also fabrics, notions, and patterns. Every once in a while you'll find a stellar deal on an actual vintage garment, but generally the inexpensive ones are the more run of the mill standard dresses from back then. If you make your own or have a seamstress make it for you then you can have exactly what you want in color, detailing, and styling.

 

[Lady Day]

NicolettaRose,
I never thought you were arguing.

Good. Thats over. Now lets get back to taking about shoes

LD

 

[AllaboutEve]

If I had the talent of LadyD or Lauren I would probably make all or most of my wardrobe I think! I make a few pieces and am thankful once the war is over and they are finished to be honest, but I will persevere!!lol lol


I like Nicoletta's idea of the possible history/sentiment attached to things too, but more often than not this is complicated by cost, fragility fit etc for me. (not excepting the dealer's that are all too keen to rip you off these days! ) but in an ideal world I would agree.

I have some original vintage and it's truly lovely and like LadyD say's there are some things that you just can't make so I am glad to have been lucky enough to have found a few good staples. So I suppose I agree with you both on different points. I really don't think that there is an undisputed right or wrong. Difference of opinion is a good thing in my book!, makes the world go round!!

Another point of interest maybe is the fact that compared to a lot of the ladies of WWII Britain I suspect we have a great many more dresses than the ladies then would have had.
My best friend's grandmother was always easily spotted at the local dances by her future husband as she only had one dress that was purple so he never struggled to find her there!

In that respect I wonder if making your own clothes is truer to the vintage ethic, you know the old "make do and mend"
What do you ladies think?