What gives you that vintage feeling?

[herringbonekid]

-wearing vintage clothes (obviously)

-being in an old building that hasn't changed (especially if no one else is there)

-riding my 1940s Mercury bicycle:

 

[kiwilrdg]

fixing anything that is no longer made.

Making a hard times meal from scraps and whatever I have or can find. Need to make the ration stamps last.

 

[Two Types]

Three things:

The first two are sensory

The smell of the old style cigarettes (Embassy, Players, Woodbines etc)

The smell of beer as you walk into a pub early in the day (the smell is never the same by late afternoon).

The third is more abstract:

As an historian writing about the mid 20th century, I have to get into the correct mindset when writing-up quotes from interviews. When everything comes together properly it gives me a very period/vintage feeling.

 

[green papaya]

touring museums with vintage displays, especially military museums with lots of artifacts & photos

 

[ButteMT61]

Snow/winter. Holidays (again. Fall/winter). Fireplace. Museums. Big Band &Swing radio.

 

[skyvue]

I love seeing old movies in a theatre (especially a classic bijou). I enjoy them on television, too, but there's nothing like seeing a classic picture in a theatre with an appreciative audience. Especially a silent movie with live musical accompaniment. That's like a trip back in time.

 

[Marla]

Well, for me it's being in a group of people who are wearing vintage clothing while having a conversation about the era or doing something vintagey.

 

[vitanola]

Jacking up the right rear wheel of the Flivver when starting it on a cold winter morning.

 

[MikeBravo]

The ultimate would have to be walking into a big old Art Deco dancehall with an 18-piece Big Band rockin' the rafters and seeing the floor full of jitterbuggers tearing up the floor.

Yeah babyyyy!!!!

 

[kiwilrdg]

I have been doing a lot of research through interviews. I feel the most vintage when I start asking questions about things in the '40s and the folks who lived through them respond "Oh yea, I remember that." When they ask me to show their grandchildren things in my display it reinforces the feeling more.

It kind of reminds me of the Steven Wright line "I like to reminesce with total strangers."

 

[Fletch]

Using my old saxes, and playing in the Ballyhoos.

Singing to the old records.

Studying the history of my city.

Visiting great old places - buildings, houses, theaters, hotels.

...careless noon, the houses lighted late,
Harvest and holiday, the people's peace.
- John A. Holmes, 1937

 

[Touchofevil]

Snow/winter. Holidays (again. Fall/winter). Fireplace. Museums. Big Band &Swing radio.

Holidays, Fall, and Winter definitely!

Ross MacDonald and Georges Simenon. Dan Marlowe as well. My backyard.

 

[2jakes]

Sometimes the smell of popcorn freshly made , takes me back to the local Sat. morning matinee movies, downtown.
The smell of rain in the morning or the gardenias & I'm back at my grandmothers home that I miss so much.
The song "Mr. Sandman" which I didn't like at the time…now takes me back to riding my "Western Flyer" bike
around my old neighborhood in 1955. Also,
" Peaches that come from Fredericksburg , Tx. " …. & I 'm a kid once again !

 

[Nikki]

My favorite wool pin up sweater and my 1950's purse. They always give me a vintage feeling.

 

[2jakes]

My favorite wool pin up sweater and my 1950's purse. They always give me a vintage feeling.

"Welcome Aboard neighbor" !

 

[AtomicEraTom]

Coming home from work, hanging my fedora on the hat tree, putting some Sinatra on the turntable, and grabbing an old "Life" magazine to read while sitting in my 1950's living room chair, in my living room full of period items. It's like stepping back in time every time I come home.

 

[Nikki]

"Welcome Aboard neighbor" !

Thank you. This is an awesome forum and I'm happy to be here.

 

[Murphy]

For me.... anything that is not electronic.... no cell phone ...no electronic books... no Ipad no thing like that.


Books...paper books give me the vintage feeling.


Yes, reading paper books make me feel in the past!

I have to agree with that, there is nothing gives me a greater feel of vintage living than reading a real book. The smell and feel of it takes me back to days before technology when if you wanted to learn or just relax you had to sit down with the written word. I suppose for complete authenticity it should be a book of the period for instance PG Woodhouse, but for me any quality writing is acceptable. Has to be hardback of course!

 

[Miss Golightly]

For me it's reading novels (in paper format - no Kindle for me thank you!), watching old movies, the smell of vintage perfume, getting ready for a night out dressed up in my vintage clothing, sitting at my 1930's dressing table fixing my hair....

 

[Undertow]

Mine is two-fold. Researching history of the Des Moines, IA area, whether it be photgraphs, historical accouts, rail timetables, etc. The other half is actually exploring my town and trying to track down these locations; i.e. old buildings, partially covered rail, faded signs painted on brick.

All the above gives me that "vintage" feeling. Otherwise, just being around my grandparents. That helps, too. We talk about the past quite a bit. Lots of nostalgia.