6.25.2012

Review: Overdressed, The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion.

Photobucket

Most recently that thing we all do wrong is food. Eat all your vegetables? 

Yes? Good. 

Are they organic locally grown non genetically modified vegetables that sprout from soil from the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and watered with kitten tears? 

No?

You may as well give up. 

Being somewhat of an outsider in the world of modern fashion I see its endless issues in much the same way. What's the point of trying? Not support companies who manufacture products in "sweatshops"? I guess. 

We all know sweatshops are bad. Thank you college graduates of the 90s. We get it. But it's not as simple as that. 

I was offered up Overdressed, The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion By Elizabeth Cline to review. I find the subject of mainstream fashion today incredibly intriguing, not on the surface, but underneath it all. 

Photobucket

I didn't really expect this book to unleash any new information other than the basics of what we are all aware of, which is sweatshops are still bad, and if you don't buy anything made overseas, you're good. 

In reality what we think of as a simple good/bad situation is a tangled and complicated web, one that seems so overwhelming that in the midst of the book you might just decide to go live out in the woods on leaves and berries and weave your own fabric from your dogs hair just to offset the results of the damage your consumerism has done. 

It's ok. Breath. Finish the book. 

I know many of you, like me, live a more vintage centered life than a modern one, and that part of me found some particular sections of the book especially interesting. Like accounts of what has become of labels of the vintage garments hanging in my closet. For instance Bobbie Brooks, a popular juniors line in the 1950s has morphed into a Dollar General brand. 

Photobucket

One thing that really stood out to me is that merchandise in stores moves so fast, our only choice is to impulse buy. In previous 20th century eras stores rotated merchandise seasonally, four times a year. If you were building your wardrobe with a tight budget, you could scrimp and save for something you saw at the department store. It would still be there when you'd saved enough, and you would value it. You would have thought over your decision, made sacrifices, and made sure the garment was worth the money (quality not brand). Because of these factors you would care for that garment. Mend it. Properly clean it. Store it well. And in return you could pass that item onto your grandchild in much the same condition as when you wore it. 

That won't happen with my generation.

You see something at a store such as Forever 21 and buy it right away. It's cheap, it's on trend, and chances are it won't be there next week. 

Even if you have the attitude of only buying locally or domestically made products of quality, your choices are limited. It's hard to do. Especially if you're buying womens wear. Recently Sam and I were in a shoe store in Portland that's been known for carrying a selection of mid-level quality footwear. I went over to the mens section and turned over the shoes. Not to look at the price, but to look at the label. Some were made in the U.S. some were not. Most of them were heavy, made of nice leather and thick soles, with stitching and a classic look that would last through trends. Then I went over to the womens section. 

Sam had to usher a scowling and ranting Solanah out of the store. 

I picked up a trendy looking leopard print wedge and nearly flung it up in the air it was so light compared to the heavy, durable mens shoes. Then I looked at a womens oxford that would be fair to compare to the mens oxford. It was also light, and the sole seemed to be made of some sort of foam rubber hybrid. I love my vintage oxfords, but in no way treat them like glass slippers. I wear them without caution, and if I were to wear the oxfords in the store the same way I wear my vintage ones, they'd be dead in a month. 

I could go on. And I might in the future, but when it comes right down to it, I really think you should read this book. It's good, it's eye opening, and while I won't say something cliche like "it will change your life", I will say it might change the way you look at shopping and your own wardrobe. There is a solution, as stuck as we may seem, and unsurprisingly that solution takes a nod from how our mothers and grandmothers viewed clothing.

So read the book. 

I'm going to go attack my massive mending pile and teach my cousins to sew their own clothes. 

  {Overdressed, The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion}

6.23.2012

Kitty paws and tiny bows

Photobucket

This weekend Sam and I saw Moonrise Kingdom. Do I even have to say I loved it? I don't think so.

I see some plaid tents in my life soon. And maybe knee socks...

This outfit wasn't entirely film inspired, but I just don't seem to have any minidresses lying around (gasp!), and I was in a petticoat mood. 

This dress is something my aunt picked up for me at an estate sale, look at that bow trim! Not to mention the handmade tag. 

All I added was a little bee and grabbed my kitty cardigan while running out the door. 

And the photobooth at The Ace Hotel can never be passed up. 

Dress-Estate sale

Cardigan-Tea with Gladys 

Shoes-Cats Pajamas Antiques 
 
Purse and brooch-Urban Eccentric Vintage

  Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket

6.19.2012

1933 pants

Photobucket

Sometimes when you can't sleep at night you just have to make pants.

And they will turn out to be the pants of your dreams.

The pattern for these is from 1933, so the leg is nice and wide, and I found fabric with a perfect drape. Fabric Depot had every color, I'm thinking red is next, don't you?

Casey made a white pair, and I really love them, but that just seems like white pants and two fluffy black cats would be a constant annoyance. Too bad, nothing says 1930s like white wide legged pants!

1930s pants-Handmade by me

Roseway Blouse-Jitterbuggin

Cardigan-Handmade by me

Purse-Urban Eccentric Vintage

 Belt-Lodekka

Bangles and hat-Thrifted/Antique expo

Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket

6.17.2012

July 21st, 1940

Photobucket

Last week I went to Cats Pajamas Antiques and spent the better part of an afternoon going through the huge basket of old photos they had for 50 cents each. I found these four photos of these four girls, as cute as can be. My grandma pointed out the lady in the white is a waitress, too bad they don't say what restaurant!

The back of the top photo reads "Ida, Betty, Janie, and Bettie July 21, 1940 Kelso Wash."

These photos are so similar to my last post, one girl even has a scarf around her neck just like Janey did!

I really love the little skirt and bolero set the last photo features, I think that might be my next project...

Photobucket Photobucket
Photobucket

6.13.2012

Out on the town

Photobucket

Today a few of us met up with our friend Sara, who was visiting from Seattle. We lunched at Kenny and Zukes and shopped a bit here and there. I found some amazing shoes, you guys are going to love! 

We also had some photobooth fun, it's a must. 

Sara wore the most amazing 1940s siren suit, WITH A HOOD. I was gawking at it all afternoon. If it's two things I love it's jumpsuits and hoods. 

Janey was darling as ever in an aqua skirt and scarf (and I do love bobby socks and loafers with skirts), and Cassandra was wearing her hottest va-va-voom pants. 

I finished this dress up this morning, it used to be a skirt! I got it for $1, and it was such a perfect 40s style rayon despite being from the 90s, I had to do something with it. There was just enough fabric for this dress, and I like the way it turned out! I added the jabot last minute, it just needed something over the top, but I might find a collar for it instead. 

Dress-Handmade by me using a vintage pattern

Everything else-Urban Eccentric Vintage


Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket

6.12.2012

King Tut

Photobucket

Last weekend I joined The Pink House family for a trip up to Seattle for the King Tut Exhibit. Naturally I dressed like a 1920s archaeologist. 

Naturally. 

Two of my cousins took on the rolls of Cleopatra and Nefertiti, dramatic makeup and all. We had fun, and got to see some amazing treasures. I was glad they allowed photographs, so many exhibitions don't, and it's such a disappointment not to share them with you! But there I got some jewelry snaps ;) 

Shirt-Borrowed from a friend

Pants-Rummage sale

Boots-Antiques store

Tie-Estate Sale

 Scarab Brooch borrowed from Julie 

Hat-Thrifted

Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket

6.10.2012

Patriotic outfit

Photobucket
{Photos taken by Julie} 

I've been on quite a 1940s kick lately. The 1940s are my favorite era (specifically 1938-1943), but I have so much 50s it often trumps all the 40s in my wardrobe. It's not only hard to find and expensive, but I'm kind of afraid to wear it all the time because I do live in vintage, and hate to worry about the state of my clothes all day. 

So my solution has been to make some of those desirable items, like day dresses and sweaters from original patterns. Right now I'm knitting a cute short sleeved sweater from 1942, and am hoping I'll be patient enough to make another dress soon (for some reason I'm more patient with knitting for months over sewing for a day). 

I think one of the reasons I love hats so much is because they don't wear down the same way a garment does. I don't fear staining or tearing them, and honestly find them at decent prices at local stores because vintage hats are not nearly as trendy as vintage clothing right now.  

Dress-Handmade by me using a vintage pattern

Jacket-Buffalo Exchange

Hat-Red Light

Purse-Solana Beach Antique Mall

Gloves-Estate Sale

Bracelet-Antique show

Shoes-Courtesy of ModCloth
  
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket

6.08.2012

1939-40 yearbook

Photobucket
Latest estate sale find: Local yearbook from Vancouver High, 1939-40.

I have a few yearbooks, but not from around here, so it was so much fun to look through it! 

With family knowledge we figured out that the high school it's from used to stand right where our last apartment was, before it was torn down for real estate development. 

And the owner went to middle school in the building where I went to high school. 

Small world! 

The top photo is my favorite, and now a 40s Vancouver High School Letterman sweater is top on my list of must finds.  

Tucked in the pages of the book were a few cards, a newspaper from 1939, photos, and a felt patch. I think it's a basketball? Maybe a baseball, not sure. It looks like they had a basketball team, but I couldn't find a list of who had what number. 

Can't wait to sew it on something :)
   Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket Photobucket
Photobucket