How to avoid looking like emo / rockabilly / scene ???

[Goldfish]

At the moment I am adopting a new style and I just love the clothes on sites like PinUpGirlClothing, but somehow I am afraid to shop those things because I fear I end up dressed like I said above .
I want to develope an unique style and try to avoid looking like her twin (she's beautiful!).
Does anyone get what I mean?

I hope you lovely ladies can help me!

[pigeon toe]

I kind of know what you mean, as I don't want to be taken as a "cherry girl" (what my boyfriend and I call the rockabilly girls who dress head to toe in cherries and try to be Bettie Page look-alikes). There's not anything wrong with that style, it's just not me. I mean, I'd be a hypocrite if I condemned those girls for wanting to look like Bettie Page when I want to look like Dita von Teese!

Basically, my only advice is wear what you like. Who cares if it might be taken as rockabilly/scene/whatever? I have a ton of things in my closet that probably fall under the category of indie or yuppie-ish (I LOVE LOVE LOVE Banana Republic!), but I make it my own by how I put together my outfits and how I do my hair and makeup. Or, on my lazy days, I just decide to look like an indie/emo kid.

Just wear what you like and I'm sure you'll look great.

[Laura Chase]

Maybe the best way to avoid it is to avoid shopping from Stop Staring and PinUpGirlClothing and such? Anyway, I think that if you don't like the look, you will not end up having it. Just look at what kinds of materials/fabrics (synthetic) and prints (cherries) those brands and stores sell and avoid those. Look at the hair and makeup, and try doing yours differently, more according to your own taste... Look at old magazines and movie stars and this forum, and you will learn a lot of great tricks and tips. I know I have.

[Naama]

It's funny, but my sisters always make fun of me, calling me "emo" because my hair is bleached blonde and I wear red lipstick [...] and somehow, the emo friends of a friend where quite impressed by me.............. (don't ask me why)

My best advice would be; avoid cherrys, avoid strawberrys maybe also(?), avoid swallows, avoid too much tattoos, avoid the 50's (sure, if you love the 50's go for it), avoid unnatural hair colours, avoid too much eye make up, avoid too much piercings (I'm pierced but never ever got called rockabilly, but then again, I avoid the 50's ), avoid skullbones, yes.... I think that's all I can think of by now... Sure, there are always exceptions, but yes, following those rules, it should work And yes, just wear what you like, and don't bother!


Naama

[Lady Day]

Lets make sure we dont turn this into an emo rockabilly bashing thread. They have a style that works, and good for them.

Now, that said, lets phrase this in a way that makes sense. You want a more 'vintage' style, correct? Well, you can shop at those sites, but you will have to develop an eye for the fashions that are cut more classic, than styled for those scenes.

Id say avoid the cheery stuff, or stuff with skulls. Also, look in department stores for more classic cut things (preferably where the old ladies shop) to get some basics to add as filler.

Then its the finishes of stocking, brooches, hats the gloves that will give you a polished look. Its about being polished, not trendy.

Good luck,

LD

[Naama]

Just to make sure! I wasn't bashing, not at all! Hope nobody gets it wrong!


Naama

[ShortClara]

I think if you go for what you like, you will have your own unique style. I don't want to look like a clone, but I do think the cherries are cute (I know I know!!) so I'm making myself a cherry dress on black corduroy fabric in a 50s pattern. It's still the cute cherries, but it definitely doesn't look clone-y. If you mostly go for the true vintage, you'll never look like a clone anyhow. Have fun, whatever you do! That's the whole point.

[RedHotRidinHood]

I don't think I will ever get over loving cherries. Hey, they did it in the 40s, so it can't be bad, right?
I myself am a little long in the tooth to be dressing as young as some of the emo girls, but I really don't worry about it too much. Wear what you like and the heck with what people think! If you like cherries or skulls, go with it and make it yours.
One thing about StopStaring-my own opinion is that their fabrics aren't of the best quality, even though the styles are cute for the most part. But that is just me, so take it as you will.
I tend to copy clothing I see from old magazines, books and movies-I am a bit of a purist, BUT I throw in new stuff once in awhile also. It's all about what YOU like!

[AllaboutEve]

I agree with several of the points made here and agree heartily with LadyDay that's it's important not to start an anti-emo/rockabilly campaign...

I think that the key is to make a style that is strong enough to stand as your own then you won't have to worry about any one aspect in particular be it cherry prints or swallows or whatever.....

Vintage style and elegance comes as much from how you wear something as much as what it is that you are wearing. So you may have purchased your coat from a thrift store for next to nothing and your gloves may be brand new with nothing of the vintage to them but you wear them like a lady!

I also think that it is important to remember that the 50's was such a dynamic, innovative decade that to write it off in fear of looking too much like a rockabilly would be a shame. The 50's encompasses so many different looks from echoes of the 40's in it's early years to the shifting waist lines of the later years. Don't let the cherry prints scare you away!!!!!

I do think that LadyDay is right when she mentions that it is often the classic cut of clothes that will give you more of a vintage edge, and I often find myself in the old ladies departments too!!!!!

I've only been doing the vintage thing for the last 4 or 5 years and I'm still putting together different looks but I think thats part of the fun. So just enjoy yourself.

[Chas]

I used to hang out in the Rockabilly scene here in Vancouver, before it imploded. It's a long story...

I guess I sort of understand why the Betty clones are the predominate look of most 'billy girls. It's really not that interesting. I used to have quite a yen for the Mexican Rockabilly girls (I lie-I still do); they do it altogether differently. Many of them I have seen look more '40s overall than the others- lots of gardenias in their hair, and lots of up-dos.

Personally, I prefer to think of Jayne Mansfield or Mamie Van Doren as a prototypical Rockabilly gal. Or check out "Untamed Youth".

But for not wanting to "look rockabilly"?

I would suggest more 40s dresses, hats with veils and suchlike. Or dress 1930's. That would cure it. Accessorise, accessorise. Just like the ladies said, though. No cherries & no skulls.

I would add: No flames. Definitely NO flames, flaming dice, flaming skulls and such. Too cliche, even for rockabilly chicks.