The Vintage Dilemma

My name is Jennifer and I am a vintage addict.

It's a dilemma that has been brought to my attention by the long cold winter and the impracticality of my vintage wardrobe. For the last 3 years, my modern wardrobe, full of clothes from high street stores like H&M and Topshop has slowly been depleted; given away to friends, charity shops or sold on ebay. I now have a wardrobe that I am proud of, full of amazing vintage finery, each item unique and not bought on a whim, (well, mostly) but pondered over, checked for fading and imperfections, and measurements checked...and checked again. A vintage wardrobe is an investment, a collection of dearly loved possessions that I know have a monetary worth and that I can one day sell on to someone else who will love them dearly.

My most treasured vintage posessions....that are impossibly painful

However I have been recently alerted to the fact that I may have been too hasty in getting rid of my modern clothes. It has been rather cold in old Blighty, those of you in the far flung corners of the globe may have even (rather embarassingly for us) been alerted to the chaos that the Nation succumbed to when snow fell, (as it is likely to do) just before Christmas. Well I do like snow, but my suede 1940s shoes don't. I searched for boots and found vintage sheepskin ones that were very warm, but slightly ill fitting. Hmmm. My ridiculousy vintaged-addled brain just will not allow me to buy anything that doesn't look period enough, therefore for the sake of 'vintage' fashion I have been cold on more than one occasion. I have warm vintage coats, but they can be very expensive and sometimes no matter how many layers you put on under your dress, its not the same as  being able to go to a shop full of clothes designed for the season and being able to pick something out in your size. Don't get me wrong, I do buy from the high street. For example, one of the girls caught on to the fact that Zara were selling some lovely vintage inspired knits and skirts this winter, so when the January sale started I made my way to Zara and invested in a lovely cardigan and 40s style skirt. Clarks, as usual have had some wonderful shoes in their Originals range, inspired by their own early designs.

Vintage Rain Protection Perfection

Another area where I feel I would be warmer/possibly more comfortable, if I just felt more myself being a bit more un-vintage is the matter of stockings/tights. I feel weird if I don't have a seam running up the back of my leg, but there are days when I wish I didn't have to fiddle around with suspender belts and girdles. I hate black tights, and there is nothing worse than a pretty floral vintage dress ruined by a pair of heavy black tights. In the spring I may wear nude tights, but it still feels weird to me not to have a seam, and I have yet to find a good quality pair of nude seamed tights that will last for more than one wear.

Ok, so I sound like a vintage snob moaning about ridiculous self imposed restrictions, but it's just a frame of mind I have gotten myself in. Creating an authentic look has become my obsession. I know I am not alone in this. Some of my girlfriends have said the same thing. We were talking about the fact that we do perhaps have to open ourselves up to the fact that there are nice vintage inspired clothing out there, and we don't have to feel guilty if we buy it. Perhaps by living in our little vintage bubble we are actually missing out on nice clothing. There is of course something to be said for the practically of clothing that can be thrown in the washing machine. Thank goodness for reproduction clothing brands such as Heyday!, Freddies of Pinewood, Rocket Originals and Puttin' On The Ritz to name but a few, who have given us the best of both worlds, providing replicas of period clothing that can be washed to suit the practical modern day standards that we are used to. As wonderful as these clothing companies are, you have to pay for the privilege. The time, care and attention that goes into creating authentic reproduction clothing doesn't come cheap.

Beuatiful Repro Fleur dress from Heyday!

So this is the vintage dilemma....am I just too vintage? I know that when Summer finally arrives my high vintage standards need not be lowered, as every vintage gal knows that Summer is the season when we can really be ourselves. The abundance of pretty vintage cotton frocks that are withering unloved in my wardrobe at the moment will finally be set free again, and along with vintage sandals and when it get it's really hot *gasp* no stockings/tights/or restrictive undergarments. But, for a change this Summer, I may just take a little peek at what the shops have to offer us vintage girls, as I may be missing out on some beautiful clothes, and maybe,  just maybe I'll try and be a little less vintage......