Vintage style interfere with buying modern clothes?

[Cameo Carrier]

All of my clothes are new sad to say. I don't buy anything that would be out of place for the time however. My "uniform" as I like to call it is just a plain black shirt, a pair of Levi's, and Converse. The problem that I have is that I'm a bigger guy and it is very hard to find something vintage in my size.

 

[Dr Doran]

Goodwill.
Goodwill.
Goodwill.
(Ebay.)

 

[StraightEight]

Just back from a shopping trip myself this weekend. What I have learned is that cheap stuff simply doesn't pay in the end as it's usually cut or patterned in a modern style and generally hangs poorly and looks, well, cheap. For new suits, sport coats, bow ties, etc. you're best shopping in places like Brooks Brothers that cater to a more classic style, or what they call "an English style." I knew I was in the right place when the salesman asked if my Panama was a Borsalino (it's a Stetson centerdent, but a sharp salesman always overshoots), asked to see it, handed it around to the other guys, and even took out his tailor's tape to measure the brim.

I found the bow tie selection at BB somewhat limited but, surprisingly, the prices were about the same as what you find online. They had a very retro seersucker blue-pin on white suit for $398 which I was tempted by (until my companion said I looked like I was wearing pajamas, and it wasn't really what I was looking for on my limited budget anyway). Nordstrom was having a huge sale and tailored shirts were $30-$45. Saks was also having a sale and I picked up a Hugo Boss lightweight sport coat for what I consider a very reasonable price (it was slightly more than the seersucker but it's now a crown jewel in the collection). I'm about done for the next couple of years, except for a few shirts, but in my opinion it's better to watch for the sales at the old line retailers and spend big on good clothing than to cheap out on ill-fitting, thread shedding junk.

 

[Brinybay]

Absolutely. One of the trends that has come and gone a few times is huge graphics and logos on shirts, hats, etc.

I have always detested the company name or brand logos on clothes that I'M paying for. I refuse to even touch them, I'm not going to pay for their advertising. I'm referring to the graphics/logos that are very visible, not labels that are attached on the inside of the garment.

 

[Brinybay]

So when your out just grabbing a random set of new clothes, does your ingrained sense of style make you pick out clothes that look more "vintage" even if trying to pick up modern threads?

I was trying to buy some nicer clothes for job interviews (I'm a diver, so nothing too fancy). Everything had cargo pockets, all the nice pattern button ups had goofy silk screened patterns. It was tough. I ended up with tan dickies pants and a nice button up short OD short sleeve. All I need is a palm frond hat and I'll look like I should be in the 1930's south pacific!

So, how's it effect you?

I never buy "randomly" because being a typical guy, shopping bores me to tears. So I go to the store with something specific in mind and leave when I get it. But yes, I try to buy stuff that has an old-fashioned style, but they're tough to find locally. I get really appalled sometimes when I go into some dept stores and I see this worn-out looking "gang-banger" type of crap.

As close as I get to random-style shopping is when I go "thrifting" to Goodwill and Value Village and pick up a vest or something, but even in those places the shelves and racks are getting filled with Made In China garbage. And it used to be that antique and vintage stuff was put in the racks with the rest of it. No more, they're able to recognize them and they get set aside with a not-so-thrifty price tag.

 

[Maguire]

Are we talking about casual clothes or suits and formal wear here? I never concern myself with brand names, and being a walking billboard is for me one of the dumbest things imagineable. the only time i wear T shirts with anything on them is for a jog.

As for my suits, the ones i buy are naturally modern but i go for double breasted and three piece for the most part, which in itself is sort of vintage i suppose. The other suits were passed down and by miracle fit. I get comments about being dressed like an old man alot but better than being a slob.

 

[Dr Doran]

Are we talking about casual clothes or suits and formal wear here? I never concern myself with brand names, and being a walking billboard is for me one of the dumbest things imagineable. .

I also detest seeing people wearing t-shirts with words or pictures. Vulgar and repellent. I wore them when I was a 'punk' in the 1980s but they at least were handmade, not advertising anything.

 

[Miss 1929]

I also detest seeing people wearing t-shirts with words or pictures. Vulgar and repellent. I wore them when I was a 'punk' in the 1980s but they at least were handmade, not advertising anything.

Exactly, they weren't cool unless they were handmade bits of art! Extra points if you had to explain what it meant.

 

[Dr Doran]

Exactly, they weren't cool unless they were handmade bits of art! Extra points if you had to explain what it meant.

They asked. I NEVER explained. I hate explaining what my tattoos "mean," too, which is why I always wear long sleeves everywhere I go.

 

[Jack Scorpion]

I have a love-hate relationship with teeshirts.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

I have a love-hate relationship with teeshirts.

haha....so do i....I keep failing to figure out why I have -two- drawers of them.....


but when I go to weed some out...I get all sentimental and keep some.....


which is why I have two drawers of them

 

[Dr Doran]

I still have an original Black Flag t-shirt, orange, with a nun whispering something. And a Dead Kennedys "too drunk to ____" t-shirt.

 

[Maguire]

I also detest seeing people wearing t-shirts with words or pictures. Vulgar and repellent. I wore them when I was a 'punk' in the 1980s but they at least were handmade, not advertising anything.

I agree- most of the t shirts i do own and wear even only for jogging tend to revolve around a theme which i personally approve and never have any kind of brand names on them.

 

[Lefty]

All of my non-plain ts have gone to shoe or furniture shine use.

 

[lizylou]

I have to agree with Brinybay, Shopping bores me also. Im sure though if there were more of a selection of vintage clothing and not so pricey I bet I would have more fun! But while I have 2 boys that love to really play it rough, they certainly do come first when it comes to jeans! They are pretty pricey now a days and for some reason I don't think boys' Levis last that long anymore! Unless the kids are cutting holes in them behind my back? LOL

 

[Edward]

I try really hard not to buy any clothes that aren't at least vintage inspired. My regular every day lounging around clothes are still about 50 years out of date. I end up looking like a little boy from the 50s.

Better that than a little boy from the 2000s, like most modern men... lol

I also detest seeing people wearing t-shirts with words or pictures. Vulgar and repellent. I wore them when I was a 'punk' in the 1980s but they at least were handmade, not advertising anything.

lol I've got about thirty or more printed t shirts.... some of these have been 'retired' to my collection as they're past their absolute best and I want to keep them in my "collection" - this would include several Ramones tour shirts (alas, I never got to see them live myself ), a Chuck Berry tour t shirt, and a coupel of others. My printed shirts are primarily band related, with a few theatre shirts thrown in (Rocky Horror Show, Little Shop of Horrors), and one Hong Kong 'Save the Pink Dolphin' shirt. One recent favourite, a Christmas present from a close friend, is a white ringer shirt (black trim), bearing the legend "Yes I cut my own hair." Gets some great double takes when I wear it.... On average, casual days when I'm not worried about looking particularly period, I tend to wear these with a greaser type look, which I guess gives an overall vibe of modern rockabilly / psychobilly, via the Ramones. I do find myself buying fewer of this type of shirt as time goes on, but i can't see me ever fully shedding them from my wardrobe. I've never cared for shirts with manufacturers logos on them, however - never seen the point in those. In particular, there's something I find rather unpleasant about the concept of paying twenty to forty pounds in some cases for a very ordinary t shirt simply because it has a large designer label on it, a la Tony Hellfinger or whatever. Something that means something to me, like the Ramones, Blondie, Clash - whatever - yeah, but some designer label..... crass.

ETA: the vilest thing I've heard of recently, though, was a premiership soccer player, whom according to last night's paper has had the Armani logo tattooed on his arm. If that's not crass commercialism run rampant, I don't know what is.