Vintage for the over 40 crowd

[Isis]

So, what I am specifically interested in what content is available online that is either for or produced by the older crowd in vintage. What blogs do you follow that are done by someone over 40(ish)? What content do you see that shows or is geared toward over 40(ish)?

Well, I'm 42 and my blog started out just to have a home for my 1940's wardrobe building project. It has branched out a bit to be about everything 40's that interests me, but the core is my clothes. I never really thought about my age and being age appropiate- I make and buy the clothes I feel comfortable in and that makes me feel pretty. I don't gear my blog toward any age group, but it is produced by someone over 40, so I guess it count.

 

[Edward]

I love the look of old Teds who refuse to go respectable and age gracefully. Within reason, of course.... Old people like me look ridiculous if we're trying to pass for high school kids in Grease (ahem), but at the same time I see it as equally OTT to rigidly dismiss certain options as "youth styles" with an arbitrary age-limit. There's decorum, and then there's agism. That said, I suspect there are probably a lot more variables with ladies' clothing that make it perhaps a more complicated issue there.

 

[DonnaP]

I'm 45, and I used to have the best vintage wardrobe when I was in my 20's. What discouraged me more than aging was my weight gain, I just felt I wouldn't look good anymore in that sort of clothing. Finding New Vintage Lady's blog was most inspiring (and I think she's stated that she's in her mid 30's, so I think her blog might qualify for what you are looking for) http://newvintagelady.blogspot.com/. I've started buying a few vintage patterns and trying out some clothing for myself. I'm almost done with my first dress, an early 1940's day frock in navy blue and white polka dot cotton. I'm kind of excited to find a new style (or actually just rediscover an old one), I've felt I became so frumpy after I had kids.

But also, with regards to blogs specific to 40 and older wearing vintage clothing, I think it might also have something to do with who blogs. I read a lot of blogs, mainly food-oriented and sewing-oriented with a few Japanese culture specific. And I think that the age range is mid 20's to mid 30's. So it's very likely that there are plenty of vintage wearing 40 plus folks, they just aren't blogging about it.

 

[Barbara]

Wow, this is such an interesting thread. I am 45 with two kids and dressing vintage is about the only thing that makes me feel that I have not "given up," and gone frumpy. However, there are some things in my wardrobe that I just am not sure I will wear again, certain dresses that maybe I will just save for my daughter. AllureOriginals on Etsy has made some really great stuff for me that just looks classy. I live in Madrid, the land of Zara and the women my age (and younger) tend to wear the same stuff, and none of it is my style. The shopping choices here are too young, or just matronly, but with vintage, you always stand out and look a bit different and if you do it well, you get away with it. However, I will say with having children, my best vintage has stayed in the closet as my 4 year old can't be trusted not to give something a good rip!

I can't see how a well made skirt and blouse or dress, in linen or gaberdine is ever going to look 'too young' on anyone. I also just can't see the day when I am going to cut my hair boy style, like the older women here and wear pedal pushers (not even vintage ones). That to me is giving up what I love. I just bought my first pair of saddle shoes (Muffy's!) this summer for years and I intend to wear them a long time.

I'd read any blog on vintage styling past 40 for sure...

 

[Louise Anne]

This post inspired me to try out wearing a slightly older hair style, with almost the same clothes, I not sure at the moment what to make of it.
it's an interesting experiment.
I have also change my blog title to fashions and style of a mature lady, which i think a interesting concept and allows more scope with blogging.

 

[Isis]

Evas liv is an excellent blogg, written by a woman who is 40+:

http://evaslivmedsomsman.blogspot.se/

 

[PrettySquareGal]

I would love to read a style blog for women over forty, and it doesn't have to be vintage. It's hard enough as it is finding contemporary new yet classic clothing. I don't want to look like an aging Vegas girl which is what many of the current middle aged demographic shops scream to me. Loud hair, animal prints and chunky necklaces et al.

I'm not dressing for a Safari or for a night at the casino.

 

[scarlett]

You are so right PrettySquareGal about the safari or casino looks. That statement made me giggle as I pictured all the odd catalogs that show up in my mailbox. Eeek! I'm getting close to the big 50 and it is getting harder to find new clothing that is acceptable to us ladies with discrminating taste. I don't want to look like an aging casino mobwife, safari adventurer or a shiny Christmas ornament. I stick to the classic pencil skirts, capris, cardis and blouses.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Hee glad I made you giggle! So true about a Christmas ornament, too!

 

[Louise Anne]

I not sure how relevant this is , last week I was talking to a lingerie shop owner in the UK about lingerie for the more mature lady and this is part of what she sent in a email to me

Fine lingerie is rather like real jewels ,they does not look good on the very young, they cannot carry it off, one needs to be a woman not a girl to be able to wear really good lace and silk and not have it wear you.

Also I think that a lot of reproduction vintage is made more for the younger lades, I not sure if they see that as a larger market target market or what.
I very really see it been worn in what I think is a authentic way by them.

 

[Land-O-LakesGal]

I am 42 I wear vintage on weekends, I try to dress more vintage inspired to work (my job can easily ruin clothes). I also have little ones so full on vintage can be tough. That being said I don't worry so much about what I wear based on my age as what simply looks good or doesn't look good. If your in my age range or older I am sure you know how hard it can get to keep your figure nice, if not your one of the lucky ones. I have lots of dresses in my closets that simply don't get worn because they no longer fit.
On to the blog issue, yes I would read a blog geared toward a more mature vintage group ladies or men. I blog myself when I can find the time.

 

[SheBear74]

I'm just on the edge of this, at 39. I lean more toward the rockabilly side of things because I came to vintage through goth. My style has changed since I started dressing in vintage/vintage-influenced clothing. I tend to sew more solid colored dresses, using the younger fabrics (gingham, polka dot, ect) as accent fabrics rather than the main fabric. The curious thing I have found is that 50s dresses to be quite matronly on me, even if it's a youthful style. Same with 50s hair. I stick to 40s these days.
As for blogs, there are individual blogs of older than 35 women into vintage, but they are person rather than about the scene.

We are about the same age. Oh and I hope you didn't think I was wierd for sending a friend request on fb lol I had noticed you on Lisa Freemontstreet's page.

I tend to mix everything up and wear what I want. lol It might make me look odd but I don't really mind. lol

 

[Tenuki]

Heading toward 50, I've reached the point where I want more vintage style, but it can be pretty tough to find a reasonable day-to-day balance between pinup retro girl and Margaret Dumont. I like Lizzie's wardrobe of basic dresses and a dress suit. That pretty much covers all the wardrobe needs and I'll bet it's easy to pack for a trip.

 

[kamikat]

We are about the same age. Oh and I hope you didn't think I was wierd for sending a friend request on fb lol I had noticed you on Lisa Freemontstreet's page.

I tend to mix everything up and wear what I want. lol It might make me look odd but I don't really mind. lol

No, not at all. However, I don't remember seeing it. Send it again and I'll accept.

 

[fortworthgal]

I just turned 37. In all honesty, I probably wear vintage clothing & hair 20% of the time. The rest of the time, I dress modern, but tend to stick to classic, simple styles. For work, I mostly wear suits (my husband refers to me as "Dana Scully" because of this), although I do tend to pair them with chunky 40s heels fairly often. I dress reasonably modestly, but I try not to look matronly.

I love the 1950s shirtwaist dresses & cardigans, and I do wear those sometimes. Sometimes I feel they may look too youthful for me, but I have a round face and lots of freckles, so I convince myself I can pull it off. :laugh:

 

[chanteuseCarey]

This post caught my attention! I want to read it fully, but for a busy morning as this I am just have a snippet of time for reading of the initial post and dashing off a quick reply. Hello, I've been away from FL for a while too (life happens), I'm now 54. A definite older vintage wearer than the FL demographic. Posed lots of pics wearing my vintage garb when I was first on FL back in 2009. I love vintage 40s- it fits my figure best. My taller, lithe 18 yo dd Sarah has the body type for 30s vintage clothing. I'll have to dig up some pics.

One of my favourite older-gal blogs is Advanced Style.

 

[CaramelSmoothie]

I'll be 40 in three years so I'm pretty close. I like the styles of the 20s and 30s, not too crazy about the 40s but that seems to be the most popular decade that people admire when it comes to vintage. I love the glamor of the 20s and 30s plus the style suits my body type. I feel that these styles can carry over into older ages very well. Think about it, there have always been older people so that means they were "dressing vintage" as well.

 

[Miss Moonlight]

I'm 42. Because I look a lot younger than my age- or always had before having a child, ha- I've always dressed pretty femme fatale- my favorite dress is a red satin number from the 40s that makes me feel like I walked off the cover of a pulp fiction book. But I find myself these days wondering if what I'm thinking of making or wearing is suited to a gal of my age. lol Like the saddle shoes thing, I want to wear them but I feel like it's too young a look for me. I'll just be feeling it out as I go and trying to be honest with myself. I do not want to be one of those gals I see who are wearing what they wore 20 years ago but it doesn't look right anymore at all.

 

[ohairas]

Hello all~
I too have been away from the lounge for quite some time~ partly due to my age. I'll be 41 this spring. I've been struggling with "do I just look silly now"? I've also gained weight and cannot wear my favorite dresses. Another thing I've noticed over the past few years, be it age or weight gain or both, is that I cannot wear heels like I used to. So, trying to find vintagey shoes to go with the wardrobe I have has been challenging. Trying to think of what to wear every day has been depressing lately. What to do!?

 

[Dixie_Amazon]

Shoes are my biggest challenge vintage or otherwise due to nerve pain and size (10W) issues. Between that, being tall and plus sized my I rarely dress vintage. I get my fix by browsing FL.