Why are we doing this?

[Marc Chevalier]

Why should I have to wear jeans that expose my rear end and make my legs look like two uncomfortably stuffed sausages?

You shouldn't have to. No one should. However, there are a few women whose rear ends and legs look quite well in those jeans, or vice-versa. More power to them, I say.

.

 

[katiemakeup]

Exactly! Style should be an extension of who you are!
Quick funny story: I was at a local bar last week and there was a HUGE brawl, that eventually cleared the whole place out. I found out shortly after that the fight was started by two guys who both showed up wearing the same shirt! Needless to say, this probably won't ever happen to me!

...and I thought girls were catty! lol

I like pretty things, glamorous things...although I am not entirely submerged in vintage lifestyle there is a respect for fine quality and behavior you rarely see anymore...

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Why?

aesthetics. The same reason why anyone dresses the way they do. They like how they look.

bk

 

[Paisley]

You shouldn't have to. No one should. However, there are a few women whose rear ends and legs look quite well in those jeans, or vice-versa. More power to them, I say.

.

They suit women who have a flat stomach, pinched waist and round bottom. And no stretch marks. That is, around 5% of the population, I'd guess--a few women, indeed.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

And those 5% all seem to live west of Beverly Hills. We call them "westsiders". Pilates and spinning (and then plastic surgery) play a major role. Genetics, maintenance and repair. And money!

.

 

[herringbonekid]

Jay, don't over-analyze it. i like wide legged trousers with turn ups over narrow legged trousers without. why ? i can't really say. i just do. they appeal to my eye. beauty, or what constitutes my idea of beauty, is still a complete mystery and i'm happy for it to stay that way.

 

[Twitch]

Speaking from a guy's point of view regarding the hat thing I find simply that the fedora is not a bad, ugly, old-fashioned, archaic article and that it has more life in it as a useable item of apparel. Everybody likes to have something a little different than everyone else and a fedora does that. Anyhow I used to wear something different than the standard baseball cap with various different military fatigue caps, Greek fisherman's cap, skipper's boat cap etc.

Thing is too that you don't need to wear a complete vintage wardrobe for the hat to look and work well. I don't really want to stand out visually by way of my clothing. I just like the hat. It "works" with my 1950 car too but I wear hats when I'm not in that car. I don't feel out of date. I like old cars but am not into all things old either.

 

[deanglen]

Speaking from a guy's point of view regarding the hat thing I find simply that the fedora is not a bad, ugly, old-fashioned, archaic article and that it has more life in it as a useable item of apparel. Everybody likes to have something a little different than everyone else and a fedora does that. Anyhow I used to wear something different than the standard baseball cap with various different military fatigue caps, Greek fisherman's cap, skipper's boat cap etc.

Thing is too that you don't need to wear a complete vintage wardrobe for the hat to look and work well. I don't really want to stand out visually by way of my clothing. I just like the hat. It "works" with my 1950 car too but I wear hats when I'm not in that car. I don't feel out of date. I like old cars but am not into all things old either.

Exactly the idea I had when I first thought about this thread. It's almost as if you read my mind. I'm not necessarily ever going full vintage in apparel, but who knows? The hat's the thing! The only aspect I'd add is that it's cool to think others would be inspired to try a fedora too.

dean

 

[jamespowers]

Why do bikers, hip-hoppers, and Hascidics dress the way they do? It's just the way it is, isn't it? Whenever someone asks me why I dress the way I do, I just give them the same answer, 'I like it.'

Over the last two decades I've had all sorts of people telling me I'm looking for attention. I honestly tell them I'm not, and that it's not my fault that the world has gotten lazy in their dress. It's an old cliche, but the naysayers are crabs in a barrel: 'I can't be bothered, so neither should you.'

You have to ask yourself, though, am I comfortable in the garb of today? If you can go out to a party or dinner in a logoed t-shirt and cargo shorts, then perhaps you can fit right in with the rest of the world. I can't. It's just not me.

In the final episode of The Prisoner, the president says says Number 6 has 'gloriously vindcated the right of the individual to be individual,' and I think in our own way we are also doing that. But by the same token, if you're dressing in a certain way just to prove that you're an individual, then the whole argument falls apart. I suppose what I mean to say is, don't even consider yourself as being individual. Just be who you are. And if that means walking around in 50 year old 3-piece suit, so be it.

Regards,

Senator Jack

You sure we couldn't be declared obsolete :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4eFblS2-io

Regards,

J

 

[Senator Jack]

Yes, James, that's just about I feel sometimes. :eusa_clap

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[jamespowers]

Yes, James, that's just about I feel sometimes. :eusa_clap

Regards,

Senator Jack

I figured that. I might too if I cared one iota about what someone else thought of what I do. If put in the same position I would probably do exactly the same thing though.

Regards,

J

 

[Rosie]

I guess the answer to the question why would be because I like these clothes and I like the way I look in them. [huh] I like looking pulled together and polished and this way of dressing represents that look to me. Plus, once any gal takes a gander at a circle skirt in motion it is beyond me why she wouldn't want to jump feet first right into one. lol

 

[mikepara]

The question should be:

Are you dressing up in a costume?

Everyone has favourite brands and items of clothing.

However Mods, Rockers, Punks, Yuppies [etc*] buy particular clothes and wear them because 'Thats what Punks* wear!' they are wearing a uniform a costume, whereas no 2 Punks* dress identically they all collectively do and are easily boxed.

Most Punks* grow up and stop wearing the uniform. Do you envisage a time when you'll stop wearing vintage?

Regardless of age, do you think your Father wears a uniform or just gets dressed? Clothes to fit the function, Work, Casual, Dinner etc.

If you wear vintage because you love to, then its just nice clothing. You will wear that cut of cloth forever.

If you wear vintage to look like an old Movie Star or to impress or draw comment your wearing a costume. You will stop wearing it some day.

 

[Michaelson]

I've been scratching my head about this one, and can only say 'quality of material' immediately comes to mind. I grew up in the 50's and 60's, and can honestly say that it was heartbreaking to watch the quality of merchandise take such a nose dive during the late 60's onward. I stuck with what I knew, when I could find it, that is, and as the fads and fashions changed, I was referred to as dressing 'old fashioned'. Now that trends have come back around, I'm suddenly back in style. [huh] Of course, now having silver in my hair, and white whiskers in my moustache, they figure I'm old enough to BE wearing what I wear. (grins)

Oh, and to the comment that was made regarding the wish they had grown up in the 50's....there was as much bad as good, let me tell you. We DID live in fear of a nuclear war, invasion through Florida from Cuba if we survived the first round of missles, etc.....so it wasn't all fun and games. We read and hear about the sanitized history of that time, but believe me, the only thing worse now than then is everything is now moving at light speed, when back then we got our news immediately on the radio, and recaps at 6 when the newspaper hit our front porch, and the nightly news came on. Now THAT I miss....as much as I love technology (heck, I make my living using it), I wish things would slow down to the pace we DID enjoy back then.

Regards! Michaelson

 

[mysterygal]

I don't dress to get attention, though I have to admit I like it a lot!
I started dressing 'vintage' because there's not a whole lot out there for women that is classy. My favorite era's are the 40's and 50's which, women just looked beautiful. Also, clothes these days are not very flattering either, I find you really can't go wrong going vintage. Plus it's been a lot of fun.

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

I guess I'm just broadminded. I like to get interested in a little bit of everything. Going from listening to punk rock while acting and dressing in that style to this, I've always been a follower, a trend comes along and I always wanted to fit in. But since then, I'm simply being "myself". Now, I want everyone else to fit in with me! Not following any sort of trend or lifestyle. I don't even stick completely to a vintage lifestyle, some of it I don't like, some of it I do. I don't so much have an urge for the past, I look into the past towards the future. I don't like compliments either, so wanting attention is out.

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

I don't dress to get attention, though I have to admit I like it a lot!
I started dressing 'vintage' because there's not a whole lot out there for women that is classy. My favorite era's are the 40's and 50's which, women just looked beautiful. Also, clothes these days are not very flattering either, I find you really can't go wrong going vintage. Plus it's been a lot of fun.

I completely agree with you Mysterygal. I don't dress to get attention, but I too must admit that the attention can make me feel pretty good, it's flattering.
My favorite era's to dress are the 30's and 40's. The styles from these eras are glamorous, sexy, flattering to all sorts of shapes, just really well put together. They are a little less conservative than some classics. But, if conservative is necessary it can easily be accomplished with one of the incredibly well fashioned, highly stylized suits from these era's. The clothes are not only flattering, but can be very comfortable. I just feel better about myself when I take my style ques from the 30's or 40's. There are so many different options. There are tailored looks, glamourous evening attire, cute house dresses, wonderful and flattering dresses with intricate details just to be worn to the movies. People from these eras just emitted class. Even during times when money was tight, ladies were always put together, they had a classiness that is not easily accessible in the styles of today. I prefer the vintage style to today's modern wear, for most modern wear isn't as flattering. I do have modern clothes. But I tend to buy from brands that cater to a dressier style. I can find some very pretty outfits at stores like Banana Republic and JCrew. I don't have very much luck at department stores, except the higher end department stores like Saks or Bloomingdales. If I wear a modern outfit, it's usually a nice dress or a skirt with a blouse or a pretty sweater. When I buy modern clothes, I try my hardest to find a designer that takes it's cues from vintage designers. It's not that hard to find a nice tailored look in a modern shoppe. I've actually noticed that a lot of the stores that I buy my modern clothes from have a wide variety of dressier outfits. Good news for me, they aren't selling well, and have been drastically marked down. I keep seeing all these really great stylized classy looking outfits in stores like Banana Republic. But, I rarely see anyone wearing them. It seems like most girls my age prefer to wear jeans and logo t-shirts. I just feel more comfortable, and better about myself, in a pretty skirt or dress. Or, a nice pair of slacks, which to me are much more comfortable than a tight pair of jeans.
Well, I love dressing vintage. I don't do it every day because my daily activities don't warrant it. But, I have been able to find modern clothes with a touch of class like the clothes of the golden era. I just hope these stores keep making them. It seems they aren't selling very well. I really don't get it. I see these stores packed with all of these really pretty clothes, but I have no idea who's buying them, for I never see people out wearing them... Hmmmm.......

 

[flat-top]

Well, I love dressing vintage. I don't do it every day because my daily activities don't warrant it. But, I have been able to find modern clothes with a touch of class like the clothes of the golden era. I just hope these stores keep making them. It seems they aren't selling very well. I really don't get it. I see these stores packed with all of these really pretty clothes, but I have no idea who's buying them, for I never see people out wearing them... Hmmmm.......

Check out H&M if you have one in your area. The women's stuff is almost always vintage style, and it's super affordable!

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

I don't really believe that fashion is going in a downward spiral, every one dresses the way they want or like. Now if there were a big demand for vintage related clothing, how do you think everyone would be dressing? If everyone were dressed vintage in this day and age, would you do the exact opposite? One piece of clothing or style of music or movies, etc can lead to another, then to another, then to another, and eventually it spreads enormously to the point where there is a high demand for it. Why do you think so many people wear jeans?

We live in our world, they live in theirs. Neither is better or worse, it's just the way things are, but they should have room for a few vintage improvements, shouldn't they?

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

Check out H&M if you have one in your area. The women's stuff is almost always vintage style, and it's super affordable!

I actually have had a lot of luck with H&M. I bought a suit there 4 years ago that is almost an exact copy of a vintage suit. I have worn it to a few vintage events, and people couldn't believe that it was H&M and not vintage.
I really do like this store, the price sure is right. The only thing is, you often get what you pay for. Aside from the one suit that has lasted me a while, I have bought a few other outfits from them that haven't lasted that long
But, they certainly do have great vintage inspired outfits, as well as a collection of tailored dressier clothes.
Thanks for the reminder. I'm going to the mall tomorrow to pick some things up, I'll have to drop by H&M, can't believe I forgot about them!!