I sew my own a lot but looking at something from aliexpress

Some people are more equip to dealing with it than others. I think after a while of dressing in any alternative style one just gets used to the extra stares and occasional comments!

I totally agree, there are definitely less "everyday" kind of reproduction items out there. I know it's hard for repro brand to offer riskier pieces, as the more pin up style dresses sell to both retro style customers and other people looking just for a cute going out dress, whereas more casual vintage garments might only sell to a smaller more vintage dedicated sec of their potential customer base.

It's me RockyC have you tried joanie? I wear a lot of their stuff as you can dress them up or down, plus they have lovely material and regular sales 🤗 you can often find them on eBay too

So true! I usually do a post each year for Halloween season over on my blog highlighting costume ideas that are easy to pull together from a vintage/retro closet :)

You'd think that, but never get to comfortable in it. I was going to be Marilyn Monroe. Did extensive research on her makeup. Found a decent wig and fixed it up. Had to scrap the whole thing the day before because it turns out my version of 50s and her version of 50s were very different and there wasn't time to go shopping.

Thank you! I like old mail order catalogs for the same reason, they present clothes that more "regular" people would have worn!

i also do a lot of looking at primary sources from different time periods, and it’s really great to see how everyday women and girls (and guys too - vintage menswear is p dope) dressed instead of just guessing based off of what stereotypes i know of, which helps with not looking ridiculously overdressed

Very true!

I always get looks at the grocery store and even I think I must look quite funny pushing a cart around in full 1950's fashion like an extra from Mad Men, but jokes on them because I'm a terrible cook!

Thank you! It is definitely a kind of self care to take time in dressing well for yourself, and dressing in vintage styles is certainly very fun!

Thank you!

Thank you! I'm happy to help, the more people who get to enjoy vintage fashion the better :)

It seems the smaller/more suburban a town is, the more "different" vintage seems to be considered by strangers and their confused expressions ;)

I understand that, I gradually over the years morphed I to a 40’s lady. But I see the eyes on me, and lol the thought process going in there minds.it is a confidence, and I just fake it.

Thank you Brigitte!

Ah yes, "cute" is not my favorite either!!

Ugh, the dreaded cosplay comment! I wear fabulous sparkly things at home and then change into leggings and a tunic tee when I leave the house just to avoid the eyes and the cosplay comment. I have no desire to be the center of attention, I just want to dress nice, life is too short for dressing boring, and for that same reason I dislike the cosplay comment because unlike cosplayers who are dressing up as a character, I am dressing up as ME.

So true. I love vintage fashion now too because we can choose a different era every day, which is super fun! :)

I totally know that feeling! "Cool! So 60's!" when your wear art deco 20's from head to toe! But at least these people are usually being nice so its all good.

I think anyone can wear head to toe vintage, style is about having fun and feeling good! Check out vintage mavens like Nikki Redcliffe for vintage fashion inspiration at any age instagram.com/nikkiredcliffe/?hl=en

Thank you Noëlla!

Even when people make a more negative comment or just make odd faces at my outfit I always like to think at least I have added some variety to their day, it's just a shame some people see the world through a negative lens like that!

The best is living in 2018 and getting to choose! Vintage in the streets, yoga pants for being ultra comfy in the sewing room at home ;)

Isn’t being a woman about choice... not criticizing each other so much on dress? Maybe some feel comfortable in yoga pants , where others feel better in a tap pant and nice blouse ...

You don’t need to drag others down to bring something up. The space is big enough for both. Don’t be a not like other girl. It’s a sad Mentality to have.

Today's woman gets to chose anything she wants. Heck yes.

Becky Maggie ohhh I love this point! Yes so much better.

Thank you so much! I think vintage and gothic fashion go together quite well actually, and can be blended into a style that still feels just right for you. Have fun exploring vintage style!

You can do it!

Thank you! I'm glad to help!

There are certainly vintage styles that are more "girlish" too that could trigger that sort of reaction, but you could always go after a more sophisticated vintage style with almost officey suits and sheath dresses as an option to combat this when needed. I'm sure you can find a look that works for you! :)

Thank you

Thank you!

Ah we all start somewhere right? No one gets fashion history classes in school so we really do have a lot of studying to do when we get into vintage fashion. Too bad Amazon sellers don't do the same kind of research, they just love keywords!

I think so yes! Perhaps try the style/pattern first in a gold tone of a cheaper cotton to get an idea if you like it before jumping in to the pretty fabric!

A lot of reproduction is very similar, from the top price point to the lowest. I wish there was more variety!

I agree. And I wish the designs were more similar to the era they're trying to recreate. Not that I am a vintage purist or anything. You can sometimes create more accurate looks with a few modern basics combined with a home sewn pleated skirt (for example) than by going with a standard reproduction outfit. Looking at a website like TopVintage I see a large gap (design wise) between their versions of 40's dresses and pictures of clothes from the 40's. Maybe they're trying to play it safe by making designs that would remind you of the 40's but have a bit of modern influence so it's easier to digest by the public. That's just my speculation though. The dresses on topvintage are also a lot simpler to make than some of the 40's sewing patterns I've seen for dresses. Those pattern designs had more decorative stitching or more pleats for example. Bodices and blouses might have had more gathering and panels. So a reason for why topvintage designs their stuff the way it is might be because it's cheaper because it requires less work. The vintage reproduction market is also (imo) flooded by clothes that appeal to the people who are into pin-up and/or rockabilly style, there don't seem to be a lot of designs for people into genuine every day 40's and 50's outfits, or even accurate 40's and 50's evening wear. I've gotten the impression that a lot of people interested in the pin-up and/or rockabilly style think the more accurate designs of 40's and 50's for day and evening wear are frumpy. To each their own. TLDR: lots of inaccurate designs, body con and pin up styles. Lack of more accurate designs. Sad -_-. Well, that's why I sew.

I also think they focus on pin-up style dresses because a lot more (normal..ha!) people are likely to buy a "retro" dress for one party or event and are only familiar with the most stereotypical polka dot pin up look. The actual vintage wearing, accuracy loving sort of customer base is much much smaller than the "regular girl who wants one pin up dress" customer base, so it's definitely safer for repro companies to make pin up style things as opposed to accurate styles. And you are correct that the simpler styles are much easier to mass produce and therefore cheaper for them too! That's why I sew too :)

TheClosetHistorian I did not consider that their main customer base was just people looking for a dress for a themed party. Probably because I would not pay 50€ or more for something I wasn't passionate about and was only for a theme party. But that's my own fault for falling into the "look no further than your own nose" trap (where you interpret things from your own frame of reference and/or assume other people have the same values or thought process). My best friend plays clarinet in a Dutch carnival band. They get together to practice every week but the main events are on the 11th day of the 11th month, and on carnival week itself (takes place in February). She buys 2 new pin up style and/or rockabilly dresses, the cheaper ones (10-40€), and pairs them up with the standard band uniform jacket. She's been doing this for 3 years, and I've gotten the impression that although this started as a joke (dress up/costume) she's now more into it but doesn't want to admit she's interested. But even if she's interested, it's only for that average reproduction company 50's swing dress and rockabilly style. She thinks actual pictures of outfits from the 40's and 50's look frumpy and/or weird. 😆 To each their own.

@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 I have still not bought any clothes from reproduction brands and I am very happy about that. I find them either too inaccurate in design or way too expensive (100-400€). I have had some stuff custom made in the past but didn't think it was worth the expense. I also looked for genuine vintage items but felt the variety was too limited in my size and sewing just seemed the better option.

I feel like some people who are new to expressing themselves through their fashion choices, or who may still be quite young and just not totally confident yet in environments like school that tend to be very judgmental and conformist may have some fears about dressing vintage, knowing those around them will consider it different. It of course depends on both the person, and the environment they live in, since some places are much more open and used to unique styles like big cities, where as some smaller towns may have communities much more inclined to comment on (and possibly be negative about) vintage or other different styles. It is awesome that you have such a positive experience wearing vintage! I hope everyone can have the confidence to wear whatever they like most someday, and this video is certain more directed towards beginners in vintage style who may be less confident.

Thank you Jacqueline!

Thank you!

I'm afraid I don't have and vintage loving friends myself so I haven't a clue! I would imagine there are possibly groups on facebook (I don't have a facebook so I cannot see), and sometime areas have WWII reenacting groups or swing dancing clubs, which even if you are not interested in those activities they may be good places to cruise for pals!

I'm sorry to say I do not, I am a total introvert who wouldn't know of such things! I would try searching on facebook perhaps, though I really have no clue!

Thank you!

Thank you! Finding vintage things in the correct size can be super difficult, I totally understand. That was part of the reason I started sewing at a young age and the skill certainly serves me well now. I know not everyone can sew, but it may be worth trying to learn as it makes building a vintage wardrobe a lot easier by far. Many good basic staples can be found via retro reproduction retailers like Vivien of Holloway, House of Foxy, Unique Vintage, or Collectif and come in a better variety of sizes as compared to "genuine" vintage. The custom clothing site eShakti also has a lot of vintage appropriate dresses in customizable styles. The other option is to really sift through the styles available at modern retailers to find the most vintage appropriate items. I know I have found good blouses at H&M that totally pass for vintage when styled in a 1940's way!

Thank you so much for the tips. Just now learning how to do more non basic sewing. I can do a quilt and basic things right now. Attempting a 1940's dress pattern. Here is hoping it looks like a dress.

Very true!