Vintage Wardrobe Additions – My Mother’s Closet

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My Mother's Closet, Retro Clothing

On the first day of second semester, I thought it was a good time to bust out another classic style. I had a throwback 70’s day. It was awesome. Here is the pic:

Retro: grey v-neck wool jumper circa 1978

Modern: shirt is a medium weight cotton plaid from gap from a few years ago, grey herringbone tights, sling back shoes

The jumper is made up of 4 sections, cut on the bias with a little bit of an A-line shape to each piece. It’s not super form fitting, so I didn’t feel restricted in any way while wearing it. I wear a slip underneath all skirts/dresses and I realized I needed a longer slip because the wool rubbing against the nylon was not exactly…ummm…it was annoying; but it wasn’t too noticeable. The other great thing about the jumper is that it’s relatively easy to get over my head and then off again without major assistance. I feel like I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again. I’m weird. I don’t like dresses that do not have a full, long opening in the front or back and I’m so particular about this that I now refuse to buy a dress if it does not have this option, no matter how much I love it. I’ve actually struggled getting so many dresses off at the end of the day, that my muscles have spasmed and I’ve gotten a kink in my neck/shoulder area. Not cool. But this jumper does not cause any discomfort when de-robing. I approve! I also like when I can wear a simple accessory like a belt.

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Vintage Retro Wardrobe Additions – My Mother’s Closet

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My Mother's Closet, Retro Clothing, shoes, The simple life

As I’ve hit my 30’s, I really have a preference for classic clothing from the 30s, 40s, and 50s. I know it’s not possible to buy original pieces all the time and wear them, so I’m settling for the next best thing: the resurgence of these styles in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. When visiting my mom recently, she let me raid her closet. When in high school, I’d see some of her retro outfits (that weren’t really that old when I was in high school) and I’d be like, “gross mom why do you have that still?” She’d always reply with, “One day you’ll think this is really cool and you’ll want to wear it too”. Well – that day has totally arrived. We played dress up for an hour with me trying on all sorts of her old clothing and shoes. It was a really great way to spend the afternoon with my mom.

I’ve decided to write a series of posts about these different articles of clothing to inspire others to bring back some goodies from the past.

Outfit 1 

 

Vintage/Retro Items:

• Grey hounds-tooth skirt
• Black/taupe heels

Modern Items:

• Purple sweater
• Dark grey herringbone tights

Why I love this skirt: great length and keeps me warm!

My summer skirts are just that – summery. The fabrics are light and airy and the colors are bright; but these skirts are anything but warm. I start wearing long underwear/leggings in Oct and I’m always cold all winter. Summer skirts do nothing to help me retain heat. I’ve been on the look out for nice, wool skirts that come to or just below my knees and are lined and have a nice waist band that actually fits. (I have large hips but a tiny waist and I don’t like when skirts are snug around my hips and gaping at the waist). I’m not willing to pay $100+ for a wool skirt, so I’m really glad my mom gave me this one!

This skirt was sewn by my mom to match a grey wool blazer. The skirt has a little bit of a stretchy/elastic waistband on the back half and closes with two hooks and eyes. The rest of the waistband is straight. There are also pockets!! It is made of 4 gores and has two tiny pleats/tucks on either side of the center of the skirt. It is not lined, but I wear a slip with all my skirts. I also really like the way it drapes.

To me it is very reminiscent of the skirt styles from the 50s. I was a little worried when wearing it to school that one of my students would be all, “hey where’s the poodle for your skirt?” Except I’m thinking one of two things: 1) no one knows what a poodle skirt is anymore or 2) it didn’t look as poodle-skirt-ish as I thought.

The shoes were also a great find in her closet. They have a low enough heel that my arches did not get sore. Apparently dress shoes from the 80s had squishier insides? Why did they stop making heels that way? I love the two tone shoes and the little ties on them. My mom kept her clothing and shoes in excellent condition and I’m so glad she did.

All around, I’m excited to wear this skirt again and to see what other sweaters I can pair it with!

 

 

2015 Year in Review

Tags

18th century clothing, 19th century clothing, Historical Sew Monthly, sewing projects

I really love the end of the year when all the seamstresses post their “year in review” with all their photos. It’s great to see everyone’s hard work. While I’m proud of the work I’ve accomplished, I feel bad that two years in a row, I had very ambitious plans, but did not finish much. I think after three years, I’ve figured it out. I am on Christmas break for two weeks. School is in the background – it practically no longer exists once I step out the door on the day before break. I look at pinterest and get all these ideas. I think, yeah with my skill level, I can totally whip that out. Except in the past two years, I’ve forgotten that I work 12 hour days (6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m), with the hours of 3 – 6 spent coaching. When I get home, I eat and fall into bed and do it again the next day. I spend all of my Sat from mid Jan to the start of April at Forensics tournaments and these are 8, sometimes 9 hour days. I get home, sleep for 12 hours and grade whatever I can on Sun. From Jan to April there is zero time for sewing. Zero. I think after 3 years, I have finally come to accept that. It is what it is. So given that a quarter of my year is spent not sewing, I guess what I accomplish in the other months is pretty darn good.

Finished projects:

May – Corded petticoat (for 1830s/40s dresses)

May: 1830s Dress

June: 1815 Dress (for my sister, who wore it at the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo)

 

August: Two 18th century jackets (and not pictured – re-done/fixed waist band on brown wool 18th cent petticoat)

Linen

 

Wool

 

November: 1840s Blue/white striped wool gown

Quilted Petticoat

 

I didn’t think I had made that much this year because not many (or most) of my projects fit with the Historical Sew Monthly Challenges. Because of that, I felt like a wee bit of a failure because every one else was cranking out these awesome projects that fit all the challenges. As a result, after three years of trying to make things for challenges and then getting frustrated because I feel like I’m not keeping up, I will, as usual make my start of year list for what I want to complete that will fit the challenges, and whatever gets made, gets made. Whatever does not, does not. It’s not the end of the world. I just have to do what works best for me, my historical clothing wardrobe and my living history needs.

Then I struggle with wanting to make more of the same garments for the centuries I’ve sewn for already because I want to make a better product, but at the same time I want to make more accessories, but at the same time I want to branch out more and try more eras – even though I have zero events in my area for that time period. It’s such a conundrum!!!!!! 🙂 But in a good way. #thesewingstruggleisreal

Here is my proposed list of projects for 2016 that won’t get started until after April 1, 2016.

Jan – Procrastination: Regency short gown

Feb – Tucks and Pleating: 18th century cap

March – Protection: Mantilla Cloak for Mid-Victorian OR 18th century pinner apron

April – Gender Bender: Regency Pelisse

Aug – Patterns: 1920s dress (will most likely make this because I have patterns and fabric all ready to go; more to come in later posts!)

Nov – Red: 1920s Middy blouse

 

I’m for sure going to bite the bullet and make myself a new 18th cent cap. I only have one, and while it’s okay, sometimes when I see myself in pictures I think woah, my head looks weird in that thing. Vain – perhaps, but a good enough motivation to make my own finally!