Yesterday, I got a card in the mail. It wasn’t a greeting card; and why don’t you people send me more greeting cards?! It was a postcard announcing the Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show.
I went to throw the postcard away when it spoke. “Wot? You’re just going to toss me in the rubbish bin, and that’s the end of me?” (And, am I the only one that inanimate objects talk to?) I said, “Look, I’d love to go, but I just don’t think I should given that I don’t have a job.”
The postcard said, “Don’t decide right now. Tack me to the calendar, and think about it.” The postcard, like the sofa made a persuasive argument. I thought, “I could just go for the day.” (Note to self: Get a friend in NYC who will let you sleep on his/her couch!)
I had not had my fill of people watching or vintage in quite some time; thus, I tacked the postcard, which said, “Ouch!” to the calendar. To me, the show was almost like going to a museum for a day, a clothing museum. If there isn’t a museum dedicated solely to clothing and fashion, there should be! (To illustrate how passionate I am about vintage clothing, I flew to Philadelphia just for the day just to see Princess Grace’s wedding gown, which the museum owns and only displays every now and then.)
As I walked by my vintage yellow mohair sweater hanging on the stair railing, I asked myself, “How did I ever get into vintage fashion?” It’s not like I’m someone who could write for Vogue; I walked around in a jeans, a t-shirt, and a pair of Chuck Taylor sneakers most days. But, somewhere along the way fashion, especially vintage fashion, became one of my passions when it wasn’t the kids, biking, cookie cutters, Hello Kitty, cats, and Law & Order.
I have certainly experienced a lot of fashion trends through the years. Let’s see there were toe sox, padded shoulders, stirrup pants with oversized sweaters, Earth shoes, bell bottoms, and tie-dye t-shirts to name a few. It’s only fitting that I show you some of my personal fashion statements throughout the years. Don’t laugh too hard!
(And, please comment if you can relate to any of these or if you experienced a different trend. For example, did you have a mullet, wear parachute pants, or have 10 Izod alligator shirts? Gosh, I loved my preppy phase!)
Banana curls!
My Mom always created these the night before a school picture. And, we all know that banana curls lead to crystal meth! No, they don't; however, they do lead to something much worse - perms!
Fair Isle sweaters!
Yes. That's me. Stop laughing! I should have gone with the banana curls again, right?!
I think I had about eight of these during my high school and college years. But, you couldn’t do the sweater without the prerequisite turtleneck. I had about 10 of those; today I don’t own a single turtleneck.
Sweater vest!
My Mom was on a crochet and knitting kick for most of the 1970s. I had several of these babies. This one wasn’t so bad, but I had one that was navy blue and neon lime green that was hideous. What was Mom thinking when she chose those colors?! What? Oh, you’re right; it was the 1970s!
Bold floral!
Well, at least, the bold floral took away from the mouth full of metal. You have to give the 1970s some credit, too. It was in no way a taupe time!
Perm!
Wait, I’ll say it before you do. Eeeeek! Friends don’t let friends get perms. I must have had no friend then! Of course, the goofy sunglasses, the huge flower earrings, the lei, and cat t-shirt only exacerbate the ridiculous curls. In my defense, I was at a party, but yeah, there’s still that perm!
Perm AND really bad 80s bridesmaid dress!
As we all know, the bridesmaid dress is always a mixed bag; you like it or you hate it. (I have to say that I’ve never heard any bridesmaid, who has meant it, say, “I love my bridesmaid dress!”) I remember when I saw the dress I said, “I love it!” I think that’s called taking one for the Bridal Team or something like that.
Anyway, as you can see, I followed fashion fads like most. I actually got into vintage way before it was trendy to do so. I think it started when I wore my mother’s wedding dress when I married Quinn. Though it would be years later and a second wedding that would get me hooked on old clothes.
I didn’t really want a big wedding the second time, but it seemed mandatory given John hadn’t been married before. When I had to think about buying a dress, I knew at 40 years old, I’d feel ridiculous in something elaborate; however, I knew that jeans, a t-shirt, and Chuck Taylor sneakers would be far too casual.
I don’t know what got into me, but I knew I wanted to wear an old dress, preferably one that was tea length. I began to search the Internet for vintage clothing sites. In Maryland, I found my dress; it was a tea length cream dress from the 1950s, and I paid $175 for it.
When I got it, the tulle overskirt had many rips in it, and it was too loose here and too small there. I knew if I was going to wear it, it needed some major renovations. So, $500 later, I had my new old dress! And, look how happy it made me; it's too bad most of what happened thereafter was a disappointment compared to the dress!
It’s funny to think that I am the daughter of a woman who cared little for clothing, wore no makeup, and didn’t color her hair. She did like antiques though, so that must be her contribution to my love of old things. And, both she and my father were good artists like my sister, Julie. So, Mom + Dad = love of old wearable art!
Besided the always-mentioned Law & Order, I do adore America’s Next Top Model; however, it’s not really for the competition, the beautiful woman, or even the clothes. It’s really for the pictures. (And, do I sound like someone who reads Playboy for the articles?!) It's also how a relatively ordinary person + clothes, hair, and makeup = living art.
(One of my favorite exhibits at the MFA was the one for fashion photographer Horst P. Horst. Never mind the dress, isn’t this just beautiful? And, this is absolutely fabulous!)
I guess being a visual and clothing person, it would make sense that I tryand make a statement with my clothing when not wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and Chuck Taylor sneakers. When I was at Ellen’s on Easter, she said how much she liked my 1970s Mexican embroidered top. Earlier in the week, my friend, Melissa, asked me what “vintage outfit” I would be wearing when all the Lovelies next got together. (It turned out to be another Mexican embroidered top; I have six, but they’re so not turtlenecks!)
There’s one thing about making a statement, and then it’s another very nice thing to have people expect it of you and appreciate you for it. When I used to work, it seemed that some actually looked forward to what I might pull out of my closet every day. And when asked about an item, I always sounded like a curator from a museum with “Oh, it’s a sweater dress from the 1970s. It’s an illusion dress from the 1960s. It’s a box purse from the 1950s.” And, I guess I’m a curator of my own museum, choosing something old to wear and making it new most days.
This is a dress from the 1960s, and I’m putting it here to erase all pictures previously presented from your memories!
I bought it for $40 at the local vintage store. Betsey Johnson, Stella McCartney, and Vera Wang, eat your hearts out! They just don’t make them like they used to. ♥
1 comment:
We all LOVED Faire Isle Sweaters in high school, Jean. I only had one; and I still remember it because to me it was beautiful! It was white with pearl buttons (the requesite 3,) and the yoke was pale blues.......I so remember loving them, then in college, it was the Ralph Lauren polo shirts....ahh, the good ole days!
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