Not Like New... Like Vintage!

[Mr Vim]

So the question has come up in my mind whilst perusing the many fine photos of others displaying their wardrobes... does it have to be vintage?

Vintage items sometimes means a heavier price tag, and perhaps not being able to wear your selection without fear of damaging it.

Perhaps I am wrong, but I like to find things that have the vintage feel to them, suits styled like those of the golden era, fedoras that... well the fedora hasn't changed all that much, but do you catch my drift?

Am I the only one who thinks this? Am I blaspheming the halls of this lounge?

What does everyone else think?

An inquiring mind would like to know.

 

[Mahagonny Bill]

I don't know if you blaspheme or not, but I have been tempted to bring the subject up in the past and chickened out

I have problems finding true vintage wear for my 21st century frame, so I have been trying to put together a wardrobe that invokes vintage style using contemporary clothing and materials. I think it's a valid topic for the Lounge and would welcome further discussion.

 

[Tomasso]

This has been discussed before. There's no shame around here in wearing newly made vintage styled clothing or reproductions. Think about the star vendors of the FLounge....Aero ....Optimo....Magnoli.........to name a few...[huh]

 

[Yeps]

I don't pay more for vintage than I do for new. That said, I generally prefer to buy second hand at thrift stores, although I do also peruse the clearance racks at Kohls. For me, the styling doesn't have to be particularly vintage, just the attitude. It helps that I try to find rather classic items. My only vintage item is my St. Regis, and to be honest, I would rather leave the vintage to people who really want the piece of history. I want a hat to wear, and a lot of times vintage is the best bang for my buck.

My favorite suit is probably from the eighties or nineties, but it is a custom tailored suit from Hong Kong (Flamingo is the brand) and rather annonymous for time period. It cost me 7.50 and fits me as if the tailor made it for me (something better than any off the rack suits I have ever found). I likewise have a similar tailored tux (1984 if I remember correctly). It is single button, peak lapel, and very conservatively cut.

That is my general mode of doing things.

 

[Mr Vim]

Well, it is nice to know that I'm not alone in sentiment.

I mean I live in Alaska, there are not many vintage or thrift stores open here, in fact there are none, and the internet can only offer what people put up.

Would anybody be willing to post pics of their Like Vintage items? I will be posting photos whenever I receive my items I've recently purchased.

 

[Talbot]

Great thread. I love original vintage items, and used to wear nothing but in the 80's. Its harder these days as things become scarcer, and are more prone to deteriorate with regular use.

I still have original stuff, but if I'm in a thrift store and something looks (or could pass for) vintage, I don't care when it was made, I'll wear it.

T

 

[Paisley]

This thread is right along these lines:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=43657&highlight=classic

 

[The Lonely Navigator]

I'm the same - far prefer to get repros. or something that is simply along the lines of classic. I shop discount from stores and also from thrift stores...and eBay too.

My typical dress for cooler weather looks like this:

 

[Forgotten Man]

Well, I know it's different for many here but, for my self I'm a die hard vintage collector and have been at it for over 12 years. For me it's dialing in to a period, wearing the original stuff kind of puts you there if you know what I mean. It's a form of time travel for me.

For it to make one happy it doesn't "have to" be vintage... it has to make you happy, my self I'm not happy unless I have the real stuff for many reasons. Fabric was much nicer then and construction and details were superior to most of new stuff.

As of late I only put on one of my vintage suits for going out... for the daily grind I wear 30s fashioned work wear. No need to dress up too much if I'm not leaving the house. lol

It really boils down to your personal interest and taste. One can find original stuff for good prices if one knows where to look... it's part of the fun... the hunt if you will. If it isn't as important to you to have original items, then you'll be best looking for things that may have a look close to the period. But, it's always nice to have a few pieces in the closet to put on for nice events.

 

[Mr Vim]

If you have any sites I should be looking at, please sock me into them, beacuse every place I find on the web (my only resource) is too overpriced when it comes to suits and the like.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

From a woman's POV, I make all my clothes from authentic vintage patterns and that's great enough for me! I have the cut and the style that I like, but it's newly made and sturdy! I don't wear real vintage ever. I don't want to ruin anything with my clumsiness!!

 

[lframe]

From a woman's POV, I make all my clothes from authentic vintage patterns and that's great enough for me! I have the cut and the style that I like, but it's newly made and sturdy! I don't wear real vintage ever. I don't want to ruin anything with my clumsiness!!

I have been buying some vintage patterns and am having some clothing made, since I am not an experienced seamstress.

Men's clothes, correct me if I am wrong, were probably made more sturdily if suits, etc., where women's clothing was more "dainty" in nature regarding the fabric.

Also, I would tear something. Badly. It's just my bull in the china shop nature.

 

[Benny Holiday]

Well, it is nice to know that I'm not alone in sentiment.

I mean I live in Alaska, there are not many vintage or thrift stores open here, in fact there are none, and the internet can only offer what people put up.

All the good stuff has long since dried up around here, in my size anyway. There were some great stores in the golden age of the 1980s in Sydney, retor, Rancho Deluxe, Route 66, Top Hat. Now they've gone or are selling 70s clothing, Ebay has thankfully stepped in to save the day.

The more way out stuff I dig, though - beltbacks and zoot suits - are all tailor made. You just can;t find those very readily at all.

 

[reetpleat]

Well, there are many here who wear modern classic style stuff, or mix and match. But, if you want a vintage look, assuming you do, you just aren't going to get without spending more than vintage for new custom. Now, a modern dress shirt, or retros style sportshirt might have the look, but anything else will need to be expensive custom or vintage if you really want to look vintage.

if you just want to look classic, then new is fine. But if you want the level of quality, again, vintage is actually going to be cheaper than most new stuff. if you buy high quality used, you might be cheaper.

There is an idea that vintage is so expensive. But the reality is that for the level of quality it is cheap. Essentially it is used.

 

[swinggal]

Course it doesn't have to be vintage. There are great makers of repros out there (some are regulars on this forum) and many of us ladies make our own stuff from vintage patterns. Guys - check the 'show us what you've made' thread in the Powderoom. You will see some spectacular home made items!

Many of us here have a mix of both. I have some amazing repro stuff that I wear often because it's it's easy to care for. A lot of my original stuff (like dresses and blouses) I keep for special ocassions but things like the hats, jewellery, sunglasses, scarves, some of my stockings, trousers and jackets - I wear regularly.

 

[swinggal]

There is an idea that vintage is so expensive. But the reality is that for the level of quality it is cheap. Essentially it is used.

A modern repro item may cost more (I have rarely found this to be the case for me) but where you save money (for me me as a lady) is in the cleaning. I daren't wash any of my crepe or rayon or silk vintage dresses at home. I could do it...but it really scares me as a few of my vintage garments have been ruined this way and it is labour and time intensive. So in the end - vintage costs more for me - because of dry cleaning.

With repros made from old patterns I can still create the exact same look just with more durable, modern fabrics...many of which can be thrown in the washing machine. Ladies of the day would have KILLED to be able to do this. With the vintage dresses, jackets and blouses I pin in modern fabric sweat pads (they used to do this all the time in the day) so I can get as much wear as possible out of the old stuff before dry cleaning it. These are great for my modern jackets that need dry cleaning too.

For guys - a great new repro 30s bespoke suit is also going to require dry cleaning but you know it will fit you, you can have it made the way you want, with the styling you want out of the fabric you want. I think it's nice to have vintage AND repro to wear. Vintage stuff can be cheaper for sure - but it's upkeep can be costly. I still buy it though because I love the style.

For me, in the end, the classic look of mid 30s to early 40s is what I like to wear because I love 'the style' first and foremost. It's romantic, feminine and classy. I don't need to wear 'original vintage' clothes all the time to achieve that. Anything modern I buy has a classic feel from this era to it.

 

[grundie]

Most of my wardrobe is new, but vintage looking. I do have a fair few vintage items, but they tend to be accessories (caps, cufflinks, pocket squares etc) rather than substantial items of clothing.

I would love to have a larger selection of vintage clothes, but as I have such a large frame - massively wide shoulders - I just can't find vintage clothing to fit me. Sadly, I have no choice to buy new.

One of way of looking at new clothing is that if you look after it and the quality is good, one day it will actually become vintage.

 

[BinkieBaumont]

"I Must admit it, This Autumn season in the Antipodes, it is so nice to walk downtown and see mannequins in Vintage style clothing, staring out of display windows, bedecked with Vintage luggage and old bicycles I have actually purchased a few items this year. A Young couple stopped me in the City tonight on an escalator, and asked were my Satchel came from, I just told them to google Cambridge Satchel Company" they walked off telling each other to remember it

For Suits I prefer to have repros made, its warm here in SRC they need to be made out of lightweight wool with real silk linings that breathe"

 

[swinggal]

It's certainly not hot all year round here Binkie. Most of my long and short vintage jackets are made in Australia and all wool. I have some gaberdine ones for when it gets warmer. But I agree, is great to see a vintage feel to so many things atm. These things end up on special in the sales in the end because the average joe just doesn't buy them...which is good for for people like us

 

[swinggal]

All the good stuff has long since dried up around here, in my size anyway. There were some great stores in the golden age of the 1980s in Sydney, retor, Rancho Deluxe, Route 66, Top Hat. Now they've gone or are selling 70s clothing, Ebay has thankfully stepped in to save the day.

The more way out stuff I dig, though - beltbacks and zoot suits - are all tailor made. You just can;t find those very readily at all.

Old Hat Vintage in Melbourne has to be one of my favourite vintage stores in Australia. I've spent a lot of money there and bought a tonne of 30s and 40s stuff and even a 20s shirt. It's always chock full of great stuff and used to have the most 30s and 40s clothing I'd ever seen in one place in Oz.