Comments You Get When You Dress Vintage

LelaViavonie · Sep 8, 2008

Tamamiko said:
I've had two polar opposite reactions to dressing vintage. The positive one was on Beale Street. I was asked by a couple of people if i was a) going to work. and b) if i was in a movie.
The negative came at work. Granted I may have been a bit over done, but I had plans to go out that night to the Memphis area FL get together. I was called into a conference with the higher ups and told to dress down and fit the mold.

Oh that is horrible! I am so sorry.. that is upsetting to hear that company's would do that!

Tamamiko · Sep 8, 2008

Thing is...

I work for the City Government and I'm the first thing people see when walking into our office, so I have to be a representative.
The day in question, I had my hair in a couple of large rolls and my make up was a little thick, but certainly not Mimi quality. I did have the fake lashes on though... I don't remember what I was wearing, but I'm sure it was office legal.
Oh well... Some people just aren't hip that way, I guess.

Sunny · Sep 8, 2008

That makes a little more sense, I guess. Your higher ups have to worry about what some random person coming in will think, even if they themselves don't have a problem with it. It's still a bummer.

Spiffy · Sep 8, 2008

Someone told me that I looked like 'that bee girl' from Fried Green Tomatoes after class today. I think it was the combo of white summer-y eyelet dress, set hair, straw boater, and the fact that I saved a helpless bee from my violent classmates.

It made my day.

Vintage Betty · Sep 9, 2008

Tamamiko said:
I've had two polar opposite reactions to dressing vintage. The positive one was on Beale Street. I was asked by a couple of people if i was a) going to work. and b) if i was in a movie.
The negative came at work. Granted I may have been a bit over done, but I had plans to go out that night to the Memphis area FL get together. I was called into a conference with the higher ups and told to dress down and fit the mold.

Yup, been there, done that. I learned a long time ago not to wear all vintage to work. Just ease them into it, and over time they may come around.

Rachael · Sep 9, 2008

I feel very fortunate to live in a hip corner of the world, and to work for a quirky company. At a recent meeting, the tasting room manager was going over the rules and such. When we got to the dress code, the vineyard owner said it was nice to have new people on board who represent the wine with class. I took that as a direct compliment since I'm the 'new people'. Again, it's unique and I've been on the other side of the workplace thing.

Tigerlily · Sep 9, 2008

Odalisque said:
So, I arrive and being to shop. And I notice the store owner looking my way. I continue. And now she's walked over to me. I figure she's just checking in to see if I need any help. Oh no. She stops in front of me and says " These are expensive clothes. We don't appreciate lookie-loos."
I still can't believe she actually said that. Just because I wasn't dressed to kill means I have no intention to buy and am just there to ogle the merchandise?

What an awfully rude lady.

Odalisque, if you don't mind my asking, what vintage store in SD was this?

Kitty_Sheridan · Sep 9, 2008

Euuch....name and shame the shop!!!!
I came across one in Norfolk recently and seeing as I was already in a bad mood she got my 'eyebrow' (thanks Vivien Leigh...I learned it when I was 5 having seen 'Gone with the wind') and a lengthy rebuke.
I then went to another vintage shop in the same place and had a spend up with the lady who couldn't have been nicer!lol

LelaViavonie · Sep 9, 2008

Yes!! We want to know the name of the shop.. I live about 2 hours from SD and I go down there sometimes to do some shopping.. and I would NOT want to shop there!!!

Tamamiko · Sep 9, 2008

Rachael said:
I feel very fortunate to live in a hip corner of the world, and to work for a quirky company. At a recent meeting, the tasting room manager was going over the rules and such. When we got to the dress code, the vineyard owner said it was nice to have new people on board who represent the wine with class. I took that as a direct compliment since I'm the 'new people'. Again, it's unique and I've been on the other side of the workplace thing.

I wish I worked in such an open minded environment.

Odalisque · Sep 10, 2008

LelaViavonie said:
Yes!! We want to know the name of the shop.. I live about 2 hours from SD and I go down there sometimes to do some shopping.. and I would NOT want to shop there!!!

Oh goodness. I'd hate to start a boycott!
Honestly, I would feel bad naming the store. It was such a random experience; as I've been there many times before and since and had nothing like that happen. I just figured she was having a really bad day. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say it was at all a justified or professional thing to say.
But I didn't let it put me off. I just thought it was interesting to see how dressing vintage can cause some folks to become a bit superior to those who don't.

RedHotRidinHood · Sep 10, 2008

Odalisque said:
Oh goodness. I'd hate to start a boycott!
Honestly, I would feel bad naming the store. It was such a random experience; as I've been there many times before and since and had nothing like that happen. I just figured she was having a really bad day. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say it was at all a justified or professional thing to say.
But I didn't let it put me off. I just thought it was interesting to see how dressing vintage can cause some folks to become a bit superior to those who don't.

You are that rare person-a very classy dame. Good for you for keeping things in perspective!

Tigerlily · Sep 10, 2008

Oh no, I wasn't going to boycott the shop hehe.

I just had a guess on which one it could have been, but good on you for not revealing the name!

Miss.Monroe · Sep 10, 2008

Well, all of my friends dress "modernly", but I don't like very much the casual modern fashion.
So I dress diferently. But my mom is always saying that I look more beautiful in modern clothes than in "my" clothes. And she thinks I don't fit in much groups and stuff from school because of that.
But it boders me, because I'm always earing that. Sometimes is a bit of anoying.

Does anyone feel the same way?

Lillemor · Sep 10, 2008

Miss.Monroe said:
Well, all of my friends dress "modernly", but I don't like very much the casual modern fashion.
So I dress diferently. But my mom is always saying that I look more beautiful in modern clothes than in "my" clothes. And she thinks I don't fit in much groups and stuff from school because of that.
But it boders me, because I'm always earing that. Sometimes is a bit of anoying.

Does anyone feel the same way?

Yes, but I don't live with my mother so it doesn't really matter but she keeps confusing my style with timeless "modern" thrift. I'm not opposed to timeless thrift either but that's not the style I'd ideally choose.

Ironically, my dad gets it, accepts it and tries to help me. He just isn't that good at recognizing periods and authentic versus retro/retro inspired.

I don't know whether it's intentional or not. She had a very unhappy childhood between 1946-early 1960s so maybe that's why she feels unintentionally reacts so negatively to anything vintage from that time. I suppose I can understand that. It's the same way I feel about the 1970s-90s though I had a few good years in the 80s so I don't hate that decade as much.

Maybe your mother's worried you'll be bullied or just want you to be popular because she loves you so much and think you're so fantastic that she just wants others to see you the same way she does.

Perhaps she just doesn't share your taste and isn't aware that she's being disrespectful by not accepting that you have a different taste in apparel from her.

LelaViavonie · Sep 10, 2008

I think Lillemor is right..
My mother was the same way in highschool.. she would say the same things to me.
But over the years she has come to realise that this is who I am... and she says that I must have been born in the wrong era.. LOL Or it might just be all the old movies I used to watch when I was little. LOL

I think somethimes mothers just fear that u may be ridiculed for looking different. I sure wasnt.. I was the only one in my highschool that dressed the way I did.. and it was interesting to them. I had all the same friends.. and was never judged in school for the way i looked. I was lucky.. cause I have heard some stories that are not so nice.

LelaViavonie · Sep 11, 2008

LOL!

This morning I was walking to the restroom and my co-worker looked stopped me in the hall and said " U look like a pin-up today"
I laughed and said really.. i didnt do anything different.. makeup and hair is the same..?
I think it may have been the flower in my hair? I havent worn one in about a week.. [huh]
I just dont know.. but it made my day!

kamikat · Sep 15, 2008

How do you tell a neighbor to shut up without making her mad? Every time I see her, she says the same thing: "What are you dressed up for?" I'm just wearing a plain cotton dress, no stockings and ballet flats, nothing fancy. When I say I'm not dressed up, she always says "Wow, good for you". I'm just tired of hearing it every time I see her.

LelaViavonie · Sep 15, 2008

Kamikat...
oh how that would be a slight annoyance for me also..
Mabey u should play along and come up with some really odd things to say back?

That or just start asking her the same question she askes u?

I really dont know.. cause I would probably come up with some off the wall (but polite) things to say.. lol

Im sure the ladies in the thread have some wonderful ideas

Miss_Bella_Hell · Sep 15, 2008

kamikat said:
How do you tell a neighbor to shut up without making her mad? Every time I see her, she says the same thing: "What are you dressed up for?" I'm just wearing a plain cotton dress, no stockings and ballet flats, nothing fancy. When I say I'm not dressed up, she always says "Wow, good for you". I'm just tired of hearing it every time I see her.

All you have do is smile, give a little laugh, and say, "You ask me that every day! You'll have to start commenting when I'm dressed down, instead." This must be said in the most breezy manner of course, because it could be said in a very nasty manner too.

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