Whats in YOUR winter wardrobe??

[Marla]

Forget the faux fur -- I want REAL fur wellie liners! The possum is a pest here in New Zealand and is exterminated as such, but it has beautiful soft fur. That fur is harvested from possums that were already exterminated anyway, so I have no moral issues about wearing it. I just can't afford to buy the boot liners yet

I did buy a beautiful vintage wool coat yesterday. It's from the 60s, and has cape-style raglan "sleeves" that don't even reach my elbows. I love the coat, but how am I to keep my lower arms warm? I am not ready to embrace the long glove look right now, nor the muff look. I don't know how those 60s ladies did it.

We're in the throes of winter here, with thick frost in the morning but crisp air and blue skies all afternoon. It's lovely even though it's chilly. I am getting a lot of wear from my 1940s-style high waisted trousers (Simplicity retro pattern) which keeps me much warmer around the middle than my modern trousers do!

Actually, I think faux fur boot liners are superior to real fur liners. Fur gives off a strong odor once the feet start to sweat, which happens almost immediately after you put your shoes on since the fur is such a good insulator. Also, the fur will start to shed after repeated wear because of the constant moisture (again, caused by your sweating feet) and may develop mildew. Unless the real fur liner is removable, it will take a long time for it to dry once the shoes are removed. Putting it next to the radiator won't help either, as the outside (assuming here it's leather) will dry before the inner liner will. Too much trouble, I say!

 

[lareine]

Actually, I think faux fur boot liners are superior to real fur liners. Fur gives off a strong odor once the feet start to sweat, which happens almost immediately after you put your shoes on since the fur is such a good insulator. Also, the fur will start to shed after repeated wear because of the constant moisture (again, caused by your sweating feet) and may develop mildew. Unless the real fur liner is removable, it will take a long time for it to dry once the shoes are removed. Putting it next to the radiator won't help either, as the outside (assuming here it's leather) will dry before the inner liner will. Too much trouble, I say!

Apart from the natural odour of real fur, how is fake fur any better for the problems you mentioned?

 

[Honey Bee]

I wear wool skirt suits with polo-neck jumpers and vintage or modern cardis. I found 60 denier flesh coloured tights last winter which were a godsend for warm legs with skirts. I have some lovely brown plaid lined wool capris which keep me toasty and jeans with tights underneath are great for super-cold snowy weather. I have a few thermal vests - some cami-style and some with long sleeved - which I couldn't do without.

I have a pink fleck wool new look-style dress too:

Miss Hannah, you are what my Grandpapa would call, "One classy Dame!" and that was his bigges compliment I only heard him use three times, one for his wife, my Grandmother, one for her sister, my namesake and one for me when I got married., of which I was definetly not "classy" but I knew what he meant!!
Where do you find your clothes...do you sew any of your clothes?

 

[melancholy baby]

Winter woolies

If trousers were good enough for Kate Hepburn they are good enough for me. ( I get cold easily)
I am always looking for classic cut sweaters to wear with them.
I had an idea for you ladies who sew too. During World War Two women often made over men's suits into suits for themselves. Even modern suit material can be winter weight.

 

[Marla]

Apart from the natural odour of real fur, how is fake fur any better for the problems you mentioned?

It's odorless, doesn't shed, and doesn't wear out as fast. Also, it's cheaper and requires less upkeep. As a shoe liner, real fur must withstand rigorous wear, which it's not good at. But as a decorative collar on a coat it will have a much longer life (provided it never becomes wet).

 

[Miss 1929]

I just bought the best winter dress, its a thick tweed, probably too hot for most situations but great for winter evenings out. I can stand in the snow and smoke without freezing to death.

I love your priorities!

 

[Lillemor]

There's so much in the retro high school/collegiate style with several wool skirts, plaid skirts, knits galore and a few knit dresses so I'm only updating with warmer undergarments. I wear a modern dune jacket under a duffelcoat for extra warmth. I tend to wear thick modern tights or leggings with thick socks pulled up to or over my knees, leg warmers on top of that if it's really cold. No, I reallly don't care what I look like when I'm out, there's nothing fashionable about being sick in bed.lol

I have a few retro 20s dresses and several tunics I've not worn for a long time but I might tie a belt at my hips to give them a retro 20s feel. I can't find our 20s thread (nor are searches turning up a thread about bobs I'm sure we had on Beauty) but due to routine changes, I needed something more practical and easier to-go-to than retro 50s.

 

[MissHannah]

Miss Hannah, you are what my Grandpapa would call, "One classy Dame!" and that was his bigges compliment I only heard him use three times, one for his wife, my Grandmother, one for her sister, my namesake and one for me when I got married., of which I was definetly not "classy" but I knew what he meant!!
Where do you find your clothes...do you sew any of your clothes?

Thanks Honey Bee! I don't make any of my clothes from scratch, although I do alter them myself if need be. I get nearly everything on Ebay and Etsy. That particular dress came from a vintage shop in Exeter - my boyfriend bought it for me last Xmas. It is a beauty! That photo doesn't do it justice at all.

 

[Puzzicato]

this is not in my winter wardrobe, because it costs £425. But I would like it to be!

 

[CherryWry]

Lots of wool skirts, tights, and boots. I adore boots and wear them regardless of whether or not they look vintage. They look good and they keep me warm.

Awesome vintage coats...one of my friends gave me a stunning green coat with a fur collar. It weighs a ton, but the color makes my hair look extra red and it's perfect for frigid New England days.

I tend to go for lots of layers. The building I work in has an inconsistent heating system, so it may be 55 degrees in my office at 8:30 a.m. and 72 two hours later. People may laught at my scarves and fingerless knit gloves that end just 2 inches below my armpits, but they keep me warm enough to work and come off easily when the heat kicks in!

 

[Deleted member 12480]

where do you ladies think I could find a vintage coat, and how much is a reasonable price? I've looked on ebay but they are usually pretty badly photographed or are far too big.

Etsy?

xxx

 

[Drappa]

where do you ladies think I could find a vintage coat, and how much is a reasonable price? I've looked on ebay but they are usually pretty badly photographed or are far too big.

Etsy?

xxx

I'd like to know as well! I tried on a beautiful brown 40's coat in a vintage shop today, but the seller wanted £200 for it which I don't have. I tried Ebay and Etsy, but it looks like slim pickings at the moment.

 

[Miss sofia]

Etsy is good, or start trawling the charity shops and junk shops, i have got some belters over the years from there:eusa_doh: . I'm a bit off ebay at the min, as I have just bought a great fifties faux leopard on ebay, but actually the seller totally got the size wrong (it fits tho thank goodness) and it was filthy when i got it, not packaged properly, crumpled to high heaven, so it has got me a little huffy as it has cost me a bomb to get cleaned, i don't mind but i wish they had prepared me for the smell of ciggies and dogs when i opened the parcel. I smoke and have a dog, but the woman must have had a St Bernard that smoked cubans or something, it was awful! Not meaning to rant, i'm sure i'm not alone in finding ebay a little tiresome sometimes:eusa_doh: .

 

[CherryWry]

the woman must have had a St Bernard that smoked cubans or something

Funny description, not funny to have that scent hit you in the face when you open the package! My grandmother smoked so much even her dishes reeked of smoke. Revolting.

For coats, I'd definitely go the thrift shop/yard sale/flea market route. I'm reluctant to buy clothing online anyway because I want to try things on, feel the fabric, inspect the construction, see the real color, etc.

 

[Marla]

where do you ladies think I could find a vintage coat, and how much is a reasonable price? I've looked on ebay but they are usually pretty badly photographed or are far too big.

Etsy?

xxx

Annie, here is a little guide I found for you on How To Buy The Perfect Winter Coat

I agree with her advice to not spend too much on a coat you're buying online because of all the factors involved. Keep in mind that all vintage coats will have some damage to them and that the really expensive coats are not necessarily in any better condition than the cheaper priced ones.

 

[Deleted member 12480]

Thanks for the help ladies, I'm feeling a little dubious about the coats on ebay, they seem more like people who have had the bright idea of selling their grandmothers old coat on ebay for a bit of cash, rather than actual vintage sellers, so i think I will stick to etsy, where the sellers know a little more what they are talking about.

I've found one I love, Its not really a winter coat, but It looks really nice, and I know I will keep checking back for new ones.

Any gals got an idea of what i should search for?

So far i've tried

30s coat
40s coat and
swing coat

i'd rather not type in 'vintage wool coat' or anything, because I'm not very good at distiguishing between 70s and 40s if you know what I mean!

XXX

 

[Deleted member 12480]

It looks to be wool, and in pretty good condition.

its only £36 + £13 shipping but i'm still too poor for that at the moment!!

Oh being too young for a job sucks. :/

xxx

 

[Miss sofia]

I like the style Annie, but just one thought, the colour, i would be carting that off to the dry cleaners every five minutes so i steer clear of very pale colours personally as they are very impractical i find.

 

[Deleted member 12480]

ah, you have a point there. Its just so scrumptious. :')

xx

 

[Honey Bee]

When I have this idea in my head I need a certain something (I have waaay to many clothes....according to The Mister!) I let my friend who manages the thrift store know and she keeps her eyes open for me..she'll call me and I hop down as fast as I can so she can put it out if I don't want it. I also will stop by another thrift store I frequent and since they put things out everyday, I hit it at least every other day....when I was sure there would be vintage canisters (I had a gut feeling) I hit it everyday...3rd times was a charm.
But then I do have a car to zip into town at whim...