Not Like New... Like Vintage!

[LizzieMaine]

I'm another who makes her own, for two reasons -- the first being the older I get the harder it is to find vintage that fits me properly, and the second being there's no longer any place within a hundred miles of here to actually buy any. We have a consignment shop downtown, but they don't carry anything older than the eighties as a matter of policy, and the local Goodwill is just as bad. Ebay has pretty much destroyed the local, independent vintage shops around here, and I don't like buying things without trying them on first. So, sew-your-own is the only option. Which suits me fine, I'd rather sew than spend extra money any day.

Which leads to some entertaining reactions from people who ask where I get my clothes. When I tell them I make my own clothes, they gawp at me like I just told them I took out my own appendix. How far we have fallen.

 

[Yeps]

This makes me feel very fortunate that I am a man, because despite style changes, and various blips (can you say 70s?) men's clothing has remained very similar, or at least classic styles have been available. So maybe I don't have that iconic 30s or 40s suit that I want, I can still give the right feel and look respectable with something modern or relatively recently made.

 

[swinggal]

Which leads to some entertaining reactions from people who ask where I get my clothes. When I tell them I make my own clothes, they gawp at me like I just told them I took out my own appendix. How far we have fallen.

Really? That is so odd. When I tell people I've made something I'm wearing they are usually amazed and wish they could sew too. What is wrong with people? Geez, even 35 years ago my mum sewed almost all our clothes from scratch. Lucky we can all come here and talk about this stuff

 

[LizzieMaine]

Really? That is so odd. When I tell people I've made something I'm wearing they are usually amazed and wish they could sew too. What is wrong with people? Geez, even 35 years ago my mum sewed almost all our clothes from scratch. Lucky we can all come here and talk about this stuff

I think around here it can be traced to the fact that Home Economics is no longer a required course in school -- it used to be that every eighth-grader learned to at least sew a straight line and made an apron or some other simple project so they had some concept of sewing. My niece, on the other hand, graduated from high school last year and is now attending college without even knowing how to sew on a button. (If she loses one, she throws the garment away and buys a new one -- bah!)

 

[Foofoogal]

Just bought a few work shirts at Kohls that are a so called vintage line.
Pretty nice. I love vintage, he could care less. [huh]

Made by Arrow.

 

[Foofoogal]

(If she loses one, she throws the garment away and buys a new one -- bah!)
-------------------

this made me laugh so much. I had a friend years ago. I was poor and she was very rich. One day I was at her house and she did the same thing without blinking. I was stunned beyond belief. Right then and there I pulled it out of the trash and taught the girl how to sew on a button and whip stitch a seam.
lol

Amazing what people cannot do anymore. Simple, simple things.
Ran into many that could not make a pot of beans to save their life.

 

[swinggal]

I think around here it can be traced to the fact that Home Economics is no longer a required course in school -- it used to be that every eighth-grader learned to at least sew a straight line and made an apron or some other simple project so they had some concept of sewing. My niece, on the other hand, graduated from high school last year and is now attending college without even knowing how to sew on a button. (If she loses one, she throws the garment away and buys a new one -- bah!)

Interesting. Home Economics is compulsory in Australia up until Year 10 for both sexes. I don't really know any adult that can't cook a basic meal from scratch, man or woman. My roomie is a Home Ec teacher for a private school and you should SEE their set up. Her year 10's cook gourmet meals for staff even at special events. Home Ec comes under the 'Technology and Enterprise' umbrella now.

Her school has sewing classrooms too but they aren't currently used as they have no sewing teacher right now. But I know that most schools here still teach basic sewing in year 8 for both sexes students, then they can choose it as an option after that in future years. I know I guy I work with who is a designer (he's 20) said he did sewing right up to Year 12 as he was interested in fashion design.

It's a real shame that sewing and cooking aren't compulsory at school in some countries anymore. They are basics of both are skills we all need.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

When I tell people I sew my own they are usually amazed and intrigued. A lot of them express interest in sewing when I tell them they can make ANYTHING they want in ANY colour or fabric. But none of them ever follow through lol A lot of them tell me they "don't have time" or "it's too hard to learn" lol I don't think they realize that you don't have to sew an outfit in one day! It takes me about 2 weeks to finish ONE dress.

But here I go derailing the thread....

Yea, Sewing my own is good enough for me. Today I'm wearing vintage-inspired, though. With the right accessories, hairdo, and carriage you can make ANYTHING "vintage-esque" in my opinion.

 

[Mr Vim]

Basic sewing I can do (thank you US Army) and cooking as well, but more complicated sewing.... not so much. I have found some interesting men's patterns for jackets and the like but the fabrics available here (as well as the staff selling them) are surprisingly lacking.

I did find a nice 100 % silk double breasted sports coat that has a great 50's vibe to it on Ebay yesterday, I'll be sporting it with some opposite color slacks for that awesome look, I'll post pictures when it arrives.

 

[bunnyb.gal]

Interesting. Home Economics is compulsory in Australia up until Year 10 for both sexes. I don't really know any adult that can't cook a basic meal from scratch, man or woman. My roomie is a Home Ec teacher for a private school and you should SEE their set up. Her year 10's cook gourmet meals for staff even at special events. Home Ec comes under the 'Technology and Enterprise' umbrella now.

Her school has sewing classrooms too but they aren't currently used as they have no sewing teacher right now. But I know that most schools here still teach basic sewing in year 8 for both sexes students, then they can choose it as an option after that in future years. I know I guy I work with who is a designer (he's 20) said he did sewing right up to Year 12 as he was interested in fashion design.

It's a real shame that sewing and cooking aren't compulsory at school in some countries anymore. They are basics of both are skills we all need.

I believe we're starting to reap what has been sown in that respect, where MacDonald's fare has become a basic food group and obesity and preventable conditions are rife. But there's just for me the basic idea that hey, even cavepeople could prepare a meal for themselves - how far have we come?

I have a partner who lacks basic home economics skills, and it is a constant "sore spot". He was never taught in school and his mother subscribed to the "woman's work here - man's work there, and never the twain shall meet" notion. I had to take home ec in high school, and whilst I was a tomboy at the time so not a big fan, I'm so glad it was compulsory. Decades later I find myself coming back to sewing, and have been happily fending for myself in a culinary way since year dot. I really feel sorry for those who can't.

 

[Mr Vim]

I agree on the lack of skill sets that should be mandatory in school but is merely voluntary.

I have kids arriving at my unit that have no idea how to use a washing machine... its ridiculous.

But has any one found any good vintage websites? I've had some luck with Etsy, the Rusty Zipper (which always makes me cringe a bit), and Ebay...

Have I overlooked any?

 

[Yeps]

I agree on the lack of skill sets that should be mandatory in school but is merely voluntary.

I have kids arriving at my unit that have no idea how to use a washing machine... its ridiculous.

Voluntary? Does that mean it is offered? Neither Home Ec nor Shop are offered in Montgomery County, on account of being sexist. (Couldn't you just have everyone do both? There are some rather important skills lost when you drop these classes)

My dorm had to put up directions not only on how to use a washing machine, but on how to fold a t-shirt. Also, a lot of people have no concept that not everything should go in the drier. I had to have a chat with a Freshman last year who, in an effort to be nice, took my load of laundry out of the washer and put it in the dryer while I was out of the room. Thankfully, I didn't have anything in that load that was prone to shrinking (or hadn't already been shrunk). It was also rather obviously not just t-shirts and the like. He never quite got why I was upset with him.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Voluntary? Does that mean it is offered? Neither Home Ec nor Shop are offered in Montgomery County, on account of being sexist. (Couldn't you just have everyone do both? There are some rather important skills lost when you drop these classes)

The explanation I got when I asked about it here was that such classes "are no longer relevant to the needs of today's students." Which, I guess, is why we see so many fine young adults walking around in their pajamas -- they don't have buttons!

 

[Puzzicato]

Interesting. Home Economics is compulsory in Australia up until Year 10 for both sexes. I don't really know any adult that can't cook a basic meal from scratch, man or woman. My roomie is a Home Ec teacher for a private school and you should SEE their set up. Her year 10's cook gourmet meals for staff even at special events. Home Ec comes under the 'Technology and Enterprise' umbrella now.

Her school has sewing classrooms too but they aren't currently used as they have no sewing teacher right now. But I know that most schools here still teach basic sewing in year 8 for both sexes students, then they can choose it as an option after that in future years. I know I guy I work with who is a designer (he's 20) said he did sewing right up to Year 12 as he was interested in fashion design.

It's a real shame that sewing and cooking aren't compulsory at school in some countries anymore. They are basics of both are skills we all need.

That must be a new thing, or a WA thing - I went to high school in NSW and only did home economics in yr 7. I did very badly at sewing & cooking and extremely well in woodwork and metal work. And the school I went to for yr 11 & 12 was extremely proud of the fact that it had been educating girls for more than 100 years without teaching cooking.

Which leads to some entertaining reactions from people who ask where I get my clothes. When I tell them I make my own clothes, they gawp at me like I just told them I took out my own appendix. How far we have fallen.

I think that sort of reaction comes out whenever people hear that you've taken time and care with something. My husband gets it with his bonsai ("where'd you buy that?" "I grew it"), I get it when I bake a cake from scratch or with some of the cured meats and preserves I make. People just don't seem to take pains with things so much now.

 

[Feraud]

Which leads to some entertaining reactions from people who ask where I get my clothes. When I tell them I make my own clothes, they gawp at me like I just told them I took out my own appendix. How far we have fallen.

Fallen far indeed. It feels like anything you put more than a minute into today is viewed as a waste of time. Make your own clothes? Why bother when corner shops sell cheap clothes at cheap prices..sew a button, knit, crochet, crafts of any kind, change your car oil, wash your car, double edge shaving, use a fountainpen, read to a child, cooking, etc. etc.

What a sad state of affairs..

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

I do wear mostly new clothes with a vintage touch. Couldn't find a vintage suit that did fit me yet(or was too broke to buy it)
If I would find a perfect fitting peak lapel 30s suit I would take a credit to have it.[huh] I really really adore and envy the suits and beltback sports coats I see here so often. Germany is not the best place to buy this kinda stuff. Maybe they all you wore their fckn uniform 24h a day.

I didn't buy at the US-Ebay yet because I am to lazy....to much to calculate with inch/cm, dollar/euro...shipping..tax...

However I do know some people who can sew with vintage patterns. I think this is great. I would rather give them my money than a company like h+m.

 

[Mr Vim]

Jeesh, How I despise H and M...

 

[Mid-fogey]

I've been told...

I think around here it can be traced to the fact that Home Economics is no longer a required course in school -- it used to be that every eighth-grader learned to at least sew a straight line and made an apron or some other simple project so they had some concept of sewing. My niece, on the other hand, graduated from high school last year and is now attending college without even knowing how to sew on a button. (If she loses one, she throws the garment away and buys a new one -- bah!)

...that in many cases, it can be cheaper to buy finished garments that to buy fabric and sew them. Is that true?

 

[LizzieMaine]

Fallen far indeed. It feels like anything you put more than a minute into today is viewed as a waste of time. Make your own clothes? Why bother when corner shops sell cheap clothes at cheap prices..sew a button, knit, crochet, crafts of any kind, change your oil, wash your car, double edge shaving, use a fountainpen, read to a child, cooking, etc. etc.

What a sad state of affairs..

And what do we do with all that extra time that we aren't wasting? Update Facebook pages? Post blistering manifestoes on discussion fora?

(I can say that without irony, because already this morning I've done two loads of washing, written half an article, and put a casserole in the oven for supper tonite. And I may yet sew a button or two before leaving for work.)

 

[LizzieMaine]

...that in many cases, it can be cheaper to buy finished garments that to buy fabric and sew them. Is that true?

Not for me. I buy fabric for $2 to $2.50 a yard, and it takes four or five yards to make a dress. Throw in the cost of notions, and there's still change coming back from a twenty. I wouldn't dress a dog in the stuff you get for twenty bucks at the stores around here.