When can you call your style vintage and when not to?

Fleur De Guerre · Apr 19, 2011

Everyone else has put it better than I could, but I'll just add- wear what you love and enjoy yourself without worrying about labels. No one is ever going to 'agree' on a label for you - through anonymous and bitchy comments on my blog, I've been accused of being both a purist snob, and a total faker who wears too much repro to be 'authentic'. I couldn't give a monkeys, and will continue to mix my eras, wear vintage with repro and modern high street clothing without fear of being labelled... you must do the same.

Puzzicato · Apr 20, 2011

Lady Day said:
Okay, since you are new, and we get this question semi-annually, Im gonna set your (and future newbies') mindset right now. There is NO wrong or RIGHT way to do this, at all. Period. Okay

I cant tell you how it makes my skin crawl when I hear people say, "she's more vintage than her." You know who do that, newbies. Why? Because people who have done it for a while are comfortable where they are in their style, whether they be Rockabilly, vintage, retro, etc.

Those who want to be as period correct in their look will work hard at it, those who don't want to will not. Its just that simple. I guarantee you that the gal who often looks like she stepped out of the era researched a lot to achieve that look. Its about the amount of effort you put in it vs what you want to do with your style.

THere are VERY few women who do it 100%. I guarantee you they are using modern something for a shortcut, or whatever.

So I guess Im saying is stop worrying about categorizing yourself as too vintage or not vintage enough. It does not matter.

LD

Well said. But it is extremely hard not to worry when you are a little bit self conscious and you read comments judging others for wearing Stop Staring etc. It takes a while to get comfy in your skin in whatever form of vintageness you adopt.

PrettySquareGal · Apr 20, 2011

Puzzicato said:
Well said. But it is extremely hard not to worry when you are a little bit self conscious and you read comments judging others for wearing Stop Staring etc. It takes a while to get comfy in your skin in whatever form of vintageness you adopt.

People will always judge you no matter what, and to try to avoid that will necessarily limit your authenticity and spontaneity since consistency isn't a human trait, nor does anyone lay claim to THE guide on what constitutes perfection.

Be comfortable in your own skin first. What others think won't matter so much after and you'll probably exude more confidence.

Also, let's say you truly like to wear something that no one else likes or thinks is fake or lame. Personally I've reached a "so what" point in my life.

If you truly like it and it makes you feel good, I say wear it!

Amy Jeanne · Apr 20, 2011

Both of you ladies have a point. I don't know the age of the OP, but when I was a teenager and even in my 20s it could be intimidating if you didn't follow subculture "rules" just right. Some people aren't "worldly wise" yet at that age. I know I certainly wasn't.

By my later 20s I stopped caring and now if I like a Stop Staring dress enough I will wear it and I don't give a rat's patootie. I actually enjoy getting people riled up over such nonsense these days lol

Berlin · Apr 20, 2011

RodeoRose said:
One of the things that's cool about being vintage is that, for most of us, there's no strong physical community. Like, you don't walk into a high school cafeteria and see the jock's table, the nerds' table, and then the vintage kids' table. There are no "uniforms" or molds to fit into; as you can see just from photos in our "show us your best" thread, most vintage gals seem to fall into their own unique styles within the arc of evoking the Golden Era.

In my mind, it's more of an ethos. Maybe you dress modern everyday, but you love old films and have one special vintage gown for evening events. Or maybe you only do the hair/makeup. Or maybe you dress in head-to-toe vintage everyday, from bullet bra to seamed stockings. What makes one "vintage" is the spirit, and the affection for and interest in the fashions of the past.

This made me smile.
I'll second Rue: well said RodeoRose!

--

I have nothing to add to what's been said here. Great comments!
I find it ridiculous that there are people around who tell others what's vintage and what not. Who made these rules anyway!? And who are 'they' to do so?
Who decided we have to follow a certain 'line' to be called 'vintage'?

Just wear whatever you like, as long as you are happy .. that's all that matters

!
And I agree with sheeplady: people who are putting others down, are just doing so to hide their insecurity.

Tatum · Apr 20, 2011

Amy Jeanne said:
SOunds like me lol

I was in high school int he early 90s when the "alternative" scene burst open. I remember other girls (and guys, too!) saying how "So-and-so isn't ________ enough because she/he likes _________ music band and wears ________ article of clothing!" I thought it was pretty lame then, too.

We must be about the same age. I spent most of HS in flannels and Docs or Converse. I still love my Docs, I have about a dozen pairs. I also still love grunge music!

What was funny was that I always had the "best" flannel shirts. My secret? Stolen from Grandpa or thrifted

MaryDeluxe · Apr 20, 2011

Amy Jeanne said:
Both of you ladies have a point. I don't know the age of the OP, but when I was a teenager and even in my 20s it could be intimidating if you didn't follow subculture "rules" just right. Some people aren't "worldly wise" yet at that age. I know I certainly wasn't.

By my later 20s I stopped caring and now if I like a Stop Staring dress enough I will wear it and I don't give a rat's patootie. I actually enjoy getting people riled up over such nonsense these days lol

Hahahaha I love pissing people off too! hahahaha I mean really life is short and some people just take themselves way to seriously!

Lusty Haze · Apr 20, 2011

My biggest issue is the fact that as far as I'm aware, I'm the only 'vintage' looking girl in my city/town. I've not met a single person who is interested in the 40's; certainly not enough to dress like it permanently.

I love the attention I get though, to be honest. You get the older generation complimenting me on it, and the younger generation just tend to stare!

I wear a mix of repro and genuine vintage. Besides, it'd be far too expensive to live purely in vintage gear!

My advice to anyone is to just sod everyone else. Ignore them; march to the beat of your own drum!

Lady Day · Apr 20, 2011

RodeoRose said:
One of the things that's cool about being vintage is that, for most of us, there's no strong physical community. Like, you don't walk into a high school cafeteria and see the jock's table, the nerds' table, and then the vintage kids' table. There are no "uniforms" or molds to fit into; as you can see just from photos in our "show us your best" thread, most vintage gals seem to fall into their own unique styles within the arc of evoking the Golden Era.

For most of you, sure, but for me, not so much. I live in one of the largest vintage communities in the US and there are all types of factions. Sewers of vintage, vintage sellers/dealers, crafters, retro wearers, rockabilly/psychobilly/greasers/ Art Deco Society, period correct vintage wearers, re-enactors, Causal vintage wearers, lindy hoppers, etc. And don't even get me started on decades...

There are HUGE cliques, so much so that I still think I am in high school. But the difference is most of us realize we are adults and try to overcome the petty he said/she said trite mentality. Some better than others.

But this is with every subversive group. Some may think they are 'cooler' than others but there is always someone who they think is cooler than they are.

Puzzicato said:
Well said. But it is extremely hard not to worry when you are a little bit self conscious and you read comments judging others for wearing Stop Staring etc. It takes a while to get comfy in your skin in whatever form of vintageness you adopt.

My questions is why care so much? It's exhausting. How about going up to someone you admire who is in the scene introducing yourself and sayin', "I'm new to this but I want to improve my vintage look. I like your style. Are there some tips you would give me?"

The more you brake the mold socially the more you rise in the ranks so to speak and get to know others.

LD

AuroraFisherman · Apr 21, 2011

Lady Day said:
How about going up to someone you admire who is in the scene introducing yourself and sayin', "I'm new to this but I want to improve my vintage look. I like your style. Are there some tips you would give me?"

Oh, I wish I was that brave! And that others were that brave too... Here in Sweden most people just walk straigth forward and eyecontact on the bus/underground or in the street is a odd behavor... Only children and drunk people seems to be allowed to go straigt forward to a person and start a conversation :s

Lady Day said:
The more you brake the mold socially the more you rise in the ranks so to speak and get to know others.
LD

Good said!

cherry lips · Apr 22, 2011

AuroraFisherman said:
Oh, I wish I was that brave! And that others were that brave too... Here in Sweden most people just walk straigth forward and eyecontact on the bus/underground or in the street is a odd behavor... Only children and drunk people seems to be allowed to go straigt forward to a person and start a conversation :s

This is very true. I wonder if any other countries or cultures are like that?

Lady Day · Apr 22, 2011

I find it's not the fear of the act that scares people, its the fear before you do it. Getting over that anticipation of doing it is far harder than dealing with said 'rejection'. What's the worst that could happen, they say 'get away from me, creep'? Okay, you still have a home base of friends to go back to, so it's alright.

The less worried you are about being embarrassed the less you actually *are* and the more fun you have. Cause most people just don't care as much as you worry about them caring.

I recently went to a vintage club by my lonesome. I knew someone who would be working the event, but she couldn't sit and talk with me. Some other people I knew *might* come, but I wasn't sure. I got to my table, alone, and at the table next to me, there was a group of folks I'd never met. One guy I knew, well seen around, so I asked, "Haven't I seen you around?" Next thing I knew, I was sitting at their table! Lovely people. We talked about Mildred Pierce a lot

That kind of thing. It's not hard.

LD

Tuesday_Next · Apr 22, 2011

Lusty Haze said:
My biggest issue is the fact that as far as I'm aware, I'm the only 'vintage' looking girl in my city/town. I've not met a single person who is interested in the 40's; certainly not enough to dress like it permanently.

I love the attention I get though, to be honest. You get the older generation complimenting me on it, and the younger generation just tend to stare!

I wear a mix of repro and genuine vintage. Besides, it'd be far too expensive to live purely in vintage gear!

My advice to anyone is to just sod everyone else. Ignore them; march to the beat of your own drum!

I am in a similar state of mind to Lusty. I don't know anyone else who tries to dress with a vintage look all the time. Its challenging to do everyday in pure vintage so I have to mix in modern and repro pieces just to save the wear-and-tear on the truly vintage pieces.

As for what other people think, do your own thing -- whatever makes you happy and comfortable.

AuroraFisherman · Apr 23, 2011

cherry lips said:
This is very true. I wonder if any other countries or cultures are like that?

Å, hurra! One more than me from the north

moonmatrix · Apr 24, 2011

I am one of three people I know in my area who do "true" vintage. One Gal is a sweetie but we are not friends sadly, the other one thinks she has to compete with me at all times, and it gets rather nasty on her end of things. I started dressing this way because it fit my figure at the time. Now for me it is an addiction. I also spend far less on my vintage because again this area is unaware of the value of the clothes. I found a 50's swirl for under a dollar, that is how unknown it is around here. I have a following of teenagers starting up and they are cute as heck to me. I do not dress head to toe vintage every day, just most days. I am known as the "vintage gal". I can rarely haggel up any comments these days about my look. I do not care if it is "true" vintage or a combination of decades, if I like it I wear it.

LinaSofia · Apr 24, 2011

AuroraFisherman said:
Å, hurra! One more than me from the north

me too! (even though I don't live there!). Welcome

SewingPeriod · Apr 24, 2011

I agree with all you lovely ladies-- I can't afford actual vintage items, but I buy modern clothes with the "right" line, and I'm currently working getting the right underpinnings (bras, specifically), so pretty much any of the button up shirts will look right, and I'm also searching for pants/skirts/etc with natural waistlines so I'll look 40s.

Anyway, all of these comments reminded me of a quote that happened to be on the b-day card I bought for my husband this year (he's a jazz musician, and this matches him so well):
"If a man loses pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured, or far away." ~Henry David Thoreau

That works for me regarding wearing "vintage" too.

When can you call your style vintage and when not to?

Fleur De Guerre

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Puzzicato

One Too Many

PrettySquareGal

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Amy Jeanne

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Lady Day

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