Have we digressed too far from the golden era?

• Sep 2, 2021

• #1

Harry Gooch

One of the Regulars

Messages

176

Location

The North

The original concept of this forum, I believe, was to post things related to the "Golden Era." I see a lot of posts these days that have nothing to do with it.

Thoughts?

Cheers to all!

 

• Sep 2, 2021

• #2

Peacoat

*

Bartender

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6,309

Location

South of Nashville

Most things evolve. There has been much evolution here since I joined in January, 2006. Some of it good, some of it not so good. Lizzie Maine would argue that none of it has been for the good. I have mixed feelings about it.

 

• Sep 2, 2021

• #3

ton312

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17,143

Location

Chicago

I don’t view many sub forums outside of Outerwear. The beauty there is that almost everything is represented, new, old and everything in between. The influence of the past clearly visible on modern reproductions. Unfortunately I can’t comment on much else. Suffice it to say that this is my most frequented social media outlet and I quite enjoy the community. I have learned so much from this place!

 

• Sep 2, 2021

• #4

Peacoat

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Bartender

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6,309

Location

South of Nashville

ton312 said:

I don’t view many sub forums outside of Outerwear. The beauty there is that almost everything is represented, new, old and everything in between. The influence of the past clearly visible on modern reproductions. Unfortunately I can’t comment on much else. Suffice it to say that this is my most frequented social media outlet and I quite enjoy the community. I have learned so much from this place!

Click to expand...

And we have learned so much from you and your Illinois brother, TMitchell59.

 

• Sep 2, 2021

• #5

Tiki Tom

My Mail is Forwarded Here

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3,170

Location

Oahu, North Polynesia

Seems to be something for almost everyone in here. I prefer a steady flow of observations, even if some are a little “off target”, to a situation where nobody comments for months (have seen other message boards die in that manner.) FL always seems to have something new that will catch my eye.

 

• Sep 2, 2021

• #6

AeroFan_07

I'll Lock Up

Messages

5,337

Location

Iowa

This is my take as well...

ton312 said:

I don’t view many sub forums outside of Outerwear. The beauty there is that almost everything is represented, new, old and everything in between. The influence of the past clearly visible on modern reproductions. Unfortunately I can’t comment on much else. Suffice it to say that this is my most frequented social media outlet and I quite enjoy the community. I have learned so much from this place!

Click to expand...

Life happens, it's hard to stop or slow down time, best to keep positive and keep moving along, while keeping grounded.

 

• Sep 3, 2021

• #7

handymike

Messages

10,985

Location

SoCal

In The Outerwear section we discuss all sorts of stuff, but most of it surrounds our love of leather jackets- new, old, and trashed. If a forum “strictly adheres” to the founding premise, I find it stagnates and eventually people leave it to die. Times have certainly moved forward over the last 15 years, and I’m glad TFL has evolved. I enjoy my “escape” where I can post about both current and vintage topics.

 

Last edited: Sep 3, 2021

• Sep 4, 2021

• #8

Ernest P Shackleton

One Too Many

Messages

1,220

Location

Midwest

handymike said:

If a forum “strictly adheres” to the founding premise, I find it stagnates and eventually people leave it to die.

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Yes. Good conversations...the best, and most pleasurable, of conversations...meander and mutate. "How did we end up talking about X?"

 

• Sep 5, 2021

• #9

Short Balding Guy

I'll Lock Up

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9,589

Location

Minnesota, USA

A similar thread started just over a week ago on the Hat Forum. https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/is-the-vintage-hat-market-dead.105029/ .

The question and responses follow a similar line as the OP's question and the subsequent posts. Some sage posts on this thread. Interesting posts on the above link.


Cheers, Eric -

 

• Sep 5, 2021

• #10

AbbaDatDeHat

I'll Lock Up

Messages

8,645

I imagine the founding fathers pictured a much different community here much as the founding fathers of our US would have. Given the freedom to grow and evolve, letting the individual freely explore here with new threads of personal interest supported by like minded members, it’s no surprise that the journey has wandered far and wide.
Therein lies the beauty of design that now speaks to any and all that care to participate in whatever degree they choose.
Within this myriad Lounge still resides the original conversations of the Golden Era. One need only look, if that is their requirement.
But...this place is so much more than just the Golden Era, due to that freedom to engage allowed by our Lounge founders, much the same as our society is as allowed by our forefathers.
In short, the Golden Era within the present Era.
Just my musings.
YMMV
B

 

Last edited: Sep 5, 2021

• Sep 6, 2021

• #11

Bushman

I'll Lock Up

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4,138

Location

Joliet

It's funny, because of this forum, my closet has gone from almost exclusively modern, to taking on items from the 30s, 40s, 60s, and 70s. Much of my outerwear has the most variety.

At the same time, lately I've been considering hanging up the collection, so to speak. I really only wear two of my hats with any frequency, one felt and one straw. The rest pretty much stay in the box. I've found the hats that have become my favorites, and I don't see any reason to wear the others with any regularity.

 

• Sep 6, 2021

• #12

Monitor

Messages

16,464

Another thing; I feel that The Fedora Lounge is much more valuable now than it was back while it was strictly serving its original purpose.
This isn't to say that there was anything wrong with it being a forum dedicated to 50's fashion, of course, and I would've loved it just the same had it thus remained but an evolution in its purest form that transformed TFL into a database of some of the most insightful knowledge on high-end clothes online - While still retaining its Golden Age roots - cannot have any drawbacks, in my opinion.

Especially nowadays, when information is diluted with advertising more than ever & having nowhere to turn to for honest info, because you literally cannot trust any of the major social networks, Fedora Lounge truly does matter.

 

• Sep 6, 2021

• #13

Bebop

Practically Family

Messages

951

Location

Sausalito, California

Yes. The Fedora Lounge has most definitely digressed far from the concept of the Golden Era. I would actually call it a progression more than a digression. But that's to be expected when dealing with a certain era. I believe the love of certain eras comes and goes. Some people linger...... I remember expecting that to one day happen when I first found The Fedora Lounge many moons ago.

Generally speaking, the admiration of the "Golden Era" attracts a relatively small percentage of people. And most of those people are also interested in present era topics and that attracts more and more people that might not be interested in the Golden Era to participate on The Fedora Lounge. The internet and social media has changed a lot since The Fedora Lounge began and that has a lot to do with just how much everything has changed from it's original concept.

I don't post a lot here but I do occasionally read things that teach me a thing or two whether they be from the Golden Era or just how much people and their attitudes have changed. Most of the time the posters have no idea just how radical or different their attitudes would have been in the Golden Era. And BTW, we are currently living in future Fedora Lounge members Golden Era. Time smokes a cigarette......