Comments You Get When You Dress Vintage

[Lily Powers]

Because the women of Buffalo have more class than the women of coastal Cal?

Perhaps the buyers for the department stores in Buffalo have "more class" than the buyers for the department stores of Coastal Cal.

 

[scottyrocks]

Maybe that, too (with a winky face caveat).

 

[HeyMoe]

I had two comments this past week that were at opposite ends of the spectrum.

The first comment was from a Brother when I was entering the Masonic Lodge I attend. I was wearing a charcoal suit, grey fedora and mid calf length overcoat. One of the gentleman there said "If you will forgive me, but you look like a Germany's WWII-era leadership". Which stopped me dead in my tracks and got my hackles up. When I asked for clarification, he realized what he said and stated to stumble on his words (something about the gestapo agent in Indiana Jones) which led to a stern talk from a Brother that is a WWII veteran and a profuse apology afterwards.

The second comment was at a wedding this past weekend where the Grandmother of the bride told my wife that I was a man of distinction and that only a gentleman would know to have his hat off inside - she said this as her son, the father of the bride stood next to me wearing a baseball hat with "Father of the Bride" embroidered on it! Anyway, afterwards my wife commented that she is starting to feel some competition from the +70 crowd of females LOL

 

[fgradowski]

I am from a very small Indiana town. The town is close minded about almost everything. In high school I got made fun of a lot. I had a lot of backhanded compliments. One classmate once told me "I like your dress, but I would never wear it". Lots of people would ask me why I am all dressed up. I always got stared at when I went out.
Now I am a college student at IU and I finally built up the courage to wear a 50's swing dress with a petticoat under it to class a few weeks ago. I got nothing but compliments. It was such a nice change from the small town mockery that I was used to. Since then I have not been afraid to go out in full 50's makeup, hair, and dress.

 

[Annixter]

Since then I have not been afraid to go out in full 50's makeup, hair, and dress.

Good on you. Sometimes straying from the pack and being different from what your cultural/discourse community decides is "normal" or "fashionable"--whether it be a school, your family, or even online groups--will result in negative reactions or reactions that are insensitive or ignorant. So long as you carry yourself with pride and enjoy your uniqueness, who cares what others think? At the end of the day, you must fall asleep with your conscience.

 

[Annixter]

One of the gentleman there said "If you will forgive me, but you look like a Germany's WWII-era leadership". Which stopped me dead in my tracks and got my hackles up.

That's really despicable. I'd have a hard time controlling my tongue. Hopefully the person actually learned something from the scolding.

On the other spectrum, today in a thrift store, a person bluntly ask if I was a Hasidic Jew. I don't have Jewish heritage--at least not dating back to the 17th century. I do have a full, trimmed beard and was wearing slacks, a tie, a sport jacket, and a gray fedora. While I have nothing against Jews or their religion, I do have a problem with people stereotyping others and publicly asking such personal questions as if they have the right to know. While I've learned to take such ignorant comments in stride (because they happen on occasion even in a region supposedly so open-minded as the Bay Area), the audacity still surprises me. I did find a 1930's Wembley necktie, so that helped my mood.

 

[MissMittens]

Switching from 40's style hybrid to a flat-out 1920's look, nowadays the worst thing to occur when dressing in vintage garb, especially throwing on my 'glad rags', is I get hit on by strange men, lol!!

 

[Stanley Doble]

Ladies..
Is it a compliment:
I was about to lift a heavy piece of hardware in the office, and a man came up to me, took care of it saying: "You should not do this, you're wearing a skirt" [huh]

I wasn't there but it sounds chivalrous and a bit flirty to me.

 

[LadyBetty]

This boy that sat beside me in my one of my classes would tell me I looked "so 80s!" every time I came to class dressed vintage. (I dress more 40s/50s, but I can kind of see how he got 80s from that...)
The only negative comments I've received— which aren't even all that negative— are from my parents and friends who say I look too overdressed when we all go out. Even if I'm just wearing a skirt and a sweater it's still "too much".
I went to a graduation party today, and I felt sort of bad because while the guy was opening his cards and gifts I had a table full of little old ladies, with all their attention on me, fawning over my outfit and hair! :rolleyes2:

 

[Stray Cat]

who say I look too overdressed when we all go out

...no.. you can't possible over-dress. Don't mind them. Be glamorous!

 

[VintageBee]

...no.. You can't possible over-dress. Don't mind them. Be glamorous! :d

amen!!!

 

[BettyMaraschino]

I look too overdressed when we all go out.

One of the quotes I go back to is "you never want to look like the poor relitive"

Its never too much!!
Mind you Im starting a course tomorrow in a rather chavvy place, and I am getting nervous about what to wear. No matter what I wear I am going to stand out

 

[Stray Cat]

No matter what I wear I am going to stand out

Than, by all means: stand out in your best. :thumb:

 

[LizzieMaine]

Had a physical today and the doctor says "I wish all the patients dressed like you." "Why's that," I asked. "Because," she said, "the buttons down the front make it easier to do the ****** exam."

 

[VintageBee]

Had a physical today and the doctor says "I wish all the patients dressed like you." "Why's that," I asked. "Because," she said, "the buttons down the front make it easier to do the ****** exam."

 

[DecoDame]

I don't dress super authentically vintage, more vintage "inspired". But I make a distinction between what I wear in public and what I wear to weed the garden. I do have a few older pieces (especially 40s jackets) that I pepper into my wardrobe and prefer wide legged trousers with them.

But still. What I noticed when I "dress up" and go do errands is that I get better service. lol It seems like retail/restaurant staff suddenly take me more seriously and "ma'am" me to death. Probably on the assumption that I have more money to spend (I don't), but I'd rather think that they just like seeing someone put an effort in, instead of throwing on a message T and some low-rise jeans (Since I hit 50, I'm even more leery of that look. I waited all my life to feel like a grown up, I want to look like one. I don't aspire to be a teenager).

But good grief, when oh when will the fashion pendulum swing from low rise to high waist again? I thought trends usually lasted 10 years or so. Feels like 30. *taps foot*

 

[Stray Cat]

But good grief, when oh when will the fashion pendulum swing from low rise to high waist again? I thought trends usually lasted 10 years or so. Feels like 30. *taps foot*

The sad truth is that the "low rise" is easier to handle the "love handles" of the ladies nowadays; as it is easier to squeeze into (no matter the fact that there's that dreadful moment of muffin-top) Waists have got larger, so high-waisted pants got harder to get into. [huh]

 

[DecoDame]

I see what you're saying Stray Cat. I've seen that moment when men have stopped trying to have their pants hit their waist and instead tuck their pants under their growing gut instead, without changing the waist size of their pants. Then brag that they're wearing the same size they did back in High School. I suppose that low rise might be that version for women. It may be physically easier to get into, but as you say, with the resulting muffin top, it sure ain't doing anyone any favors otherwise.

Appropriately tailored clothes that actually cover everything that wants to bulge is far more attractive, imo. High waisted pants (and dresses) just need to be the correct size. There were plenty of "big boned" Golden Age gals that looked wonderful. I can't help but think that modern so-called fashion would make them look horrid too, in short order. Skinny jeans and low rise doesn't flatter anyone but svelte 17 year olds (and Beyonce). But Madison Avenue isn't asking me. lol And most women just eat it up. Then blame themselves.

I know I'm preaching to the choir here...

 

[Lillie Librarie]

I have also noticed I get better service, more doors held for me, and more attention in general when I dress vintage. Even if it's just a dress and lipstick people seen to really respond positively to it. Means a lot more cat calls too and a few "marriage proposals"
(already married) but I don't mind.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[WifeyRobinson]

Owning no modern clothes I forget how much I standout lol. The best reactions come from the elderly generation. I had a gentlemen produce a photo of his wife and Tell me how I looked just like her...which I did...in the 1940s!! He teared up saying "thank you to the good memories"