Vintage Snobbery......

I've always loved old things, be it houses, furniture, films,books or clothes. As a teenager I read countless historical novels and even when buying our first home, new builds did not do it for me. Apart from the fact that on our budget we got three times more space for our money, I just loved that the properties we viewed had character, a story to tell.
Our first home was decorated with a nod to the Victorian era of its construction, with dark wallpaper and the compulsory aspidistra. A piano in the dining room was decorated with pictures of our ancestors and, well, I have to admit it was all a bit gloomy!
In fact it wasn't until about 10 years ago that my tastes started to change and the beautiful distressed greys and creams of French interiors took my fancy. Much of my home today still reflects that style, comfy distressed but lighter and fresher looking.

Only my kitchen and sewing room show that in my heart I'm really a vintage girl. Fascinated by the social history of the 1940s and 1950s. I love to watch films and series based on the era and Housewife 49, Goodnight Mr Tom and the more recent Home Fires are among my favourites.
We've started to attend one or two festivals over the last few years and have been amazed at the enthusiasm and good nature of those who attend. Complete strangers have come up to us to comment on our 'costumes' and taken pictures, so I have felt that we must be doing something right!

However that isn't always the case. A couple of years ago before we really got into researching our look, we attended a local War Weekend. We went to the dance on the Saturday night, which was well attended and great fun and then we went on the Sunday to visit all the stalls and displays.
The morning started with a service, which was very moving, immediately followed by a fashion show. Something I was really looking forward to.
There were about 20 people in the line up the first of which was an elderly gentleman who had obviously based his look on one of the principle characters in WW11.
The compère smiled sweetly and asked this 'gentleman' to tell the audience how he had got into dressing up!
Well if looks could have killed, that compère would be no more. Pulling himself up, the man in question returned...
'We don't dress up, we are re-enactors! Every piece of our clothing and accessories is original and authentic. People who come to these events and dress up, in what they think is the style of the period let these events down. We have been used as extras in films and television and producers know that if they employ us we are the genuine article'
To be frank my reaction was to be dumbfounded! Surely without we common folk who just 'dress up' most of the vintage events in the country would not survive. Ok if sticking religiously to authentic clothes etc. is what you want to do, then great, and of course you are saving these things for another generation to enjoy.
For the rest of us, dressing up helps us be part of the whole scene. We do our research and where possible buy one or two original pieces, but what about the make do and mend ethos of the era. Surely we are being authentic by researching styles and altering more modern garments to the styles of the day. Clothes that may otherwise end up in landfill.

So I'm glad that I took no notice of said gentleman, and continued to 'do it my way', 'cos we have had some amazing outings and met some lovely people through the whole vintage scene.
As you can see from these pictures of our recent trip to Goodwood, we even enjoyed the racing and a bit of celeb spotting!
So I'm off now to prepare things for our next Vintage Fair as part of Bea's Vintage Extravaganza at Grantham College on Saturday 3rd October. If you are local it would be lovely to see you there, whether you dress up or not!

TTFN

Jenny xx

I didnt see this coming...........

Do you sew?

If you've popped by here before you will know that it is quite a passion of mine. 

However................

This week has sorely tested both my patience and had me questioning my own ability!

It all started quite innocently with this pattern

Vogue 2401, a Retro Vintage dress. I bought it some time ago intending to wear it to a Christmas do I think, but never got round to making it. And then suddenly this year is all about a vintage wedding, Twinwood vintage festival and now Goodwood Revival too. The perfect opportunity to give it a trial run.

What a stinker......... Whoever dreamed this up must have had the design skills of an aeronautical  engineer but failed to appreciate that unlike aircraft  we ladies don't like our undercarriage on show.

It took me ages to fit the bodice ,sleeves and especially the front ties neatly. Accurate marking of all those little dots was a must. The worse part by far though was the front skirt, which is little more than a flap fastened at the back with ties around which the back and side fronts overlap. The trouble is as you walk the side fronts lift and reveal your bare thighs in all their vintage glory. They are not anchored to the front panel in any way, so unless your fabric weighed a ton I really do fail to see how It could work and preserve your modesty.

Thank goodness for once I had decided to make a wearable toile as I had intended to use some rather expensive fabric to make it up for the wedding.

Needless to say I have changed my mind on that score!

I have saved the dress from the bin however by making a complete underskirt. I just had enough of the vintage fabric left to do so though I had to add a panel of a contrast colour to the hem to make it the right length, I also balanced this by making turn back cuffs in the same contrast and at least I like it enough to wear it at one if the vintage events now.

The sad thing is I still love the overall look especially the top and the stand up collar, but will I ever make it again...I very much doubt it and at £14 it was certainly not worth it.

As it is now intended for a festival and not this years main event, I even went as far as to make my own 1950s hat, using images on the Internet for inspiration and a 1940s pamphlet on how to create felt flowers. I am quite pleased with the overall look but cant decide if I should add a veil. What do you think?

I have now found what I think will be my alternative pattern Butterick 5880. and apparently there is a brilliant video tutorial by Professor Pincushion, so I hope my journey will be less traumatic. I am off to the NEC on 22 March so I may even find the right fabric, lets hope!

Have you had any dressmaking disasters lately or even found any vintage patterns (especially the retro ones which have been adjusted to fit our less than sylph like modern figures while retaining the original style) that you would recommend. I would be interested to hear about them.

Have a great week, I'm off to make a Peter Pan outfit now. Cant say I don't get variety in my sewing!

TTFN

Jenny xx

Who turned the light off!

This morning as I sat in bed having my first cuppa of the day it felt like the middle of the night and yet it was 7.30am! The light seems so unpredictable at this time of year, never mind the weather. It's no wonder that so many suffer from SAD!
One  Friday a couple of weeks after Christmas though could not have been more different, after quite a drawn out (for us) holiday where we had entertained or been entertained every other day for about 10 days, we arranged to take a walk out to Belton, only a couple of miles away from where we live.
That day dawned amazingly bright and crisp, perfect walking weather with just enough of a nip in the air to give us a glow.
We are very fortunate here in the countries 'most boring town' to be surrounded by some beautiful countryside just a stones throw away and one or two stately piles where you can enjoy some lovely walks.
Our goal was a local garden centre, not to start planning our gardens I fear but to break off for one of their delicious Lincolnshire sausage baps and a cuppa for our breakfast before we headed back home through the parkland of Belton House.
It was beautiful and just the tonic we needed having felt like we were in hibernation for so long. My body certainly feels as though it has been storing fuel (fat) for a rough winter!

The bare trees, the glistening river and the deer strolling around the park provided  some sumptuous  vistas.

A National Trust property that is well worth more than one visit and certainly gets our thumbs up.

Well 'the Wedding Year' has truly begun and the first 150 flags for the bunting we are going to use are sewn, only about another 2000 to go......... Wish me luck! We popped out to the village hall today where it will all be going on and were really pleasantly surprised. Although it was built in 1929 it looks clean and fresh inside with great facilities, and the outside looks just like a real old school building! Exactly the look the bride to be was hoping for. Phew!!

 PS. This looks as though it will be our busiest year ever, not just the wedding but we're off to Twinwood and Goodwood too!, tickets for the latter being another stunning Christmas present from the happy couple and family. We are so lucky....but now I'm panicking! Wedding dress, MOTB dress, 50s outfit  for Twinwood and 40s for Goodwood! I  have however just found a 1980's does 1940's suit packed away ready to go to a charity shop. I think with a bit of sewing magic I could have myself the perfect look for Goodwood.I have the perfect shoes and bag, just a hat to find!  Watch this space, I'll let you know how I get on.

Have a great week and do come and visit so I can check to see what you are all up to.

TTFN

Jenny xx