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Zootsuitmama was my shopname, but I closed it a while back. Now I have entered a magic timemachine and live in a time warp of vintage and retro ... Join me.

Monday, April 26, 2010

How do we do it?

Howdy all! I was trying to think of a way to "stimulate" conversation about how we all manage to get through the day doing our regular lives, and keep "vintage" in our hearts? For me, I slacked off on wearing my vintage look for years because I thought I had to be a certain way. Oh yes, I would run back home at the end of the day to languish in my retro wonderland. But, I want to know how all of you got started living vintage, keep going despite work etc..the real world, and tips to others on how not to let people get to you when you choose your vintage look! Start postin' On your mark, get set, GO!

13 comments:

Mick said...

Hmm I got started on vintage with Music. So for my every day i dress liek a normal 19 yr old should, but im CONSTANTLY singing some oldie under my breath. (like Ricky Nelsons 'Waitin' in School' during my phsyc class!) Im also always looking for the old in things, buildings, dates, refrences... and that tides me over. However when the weekend comes, I go "home" to the Casablanca. Out there I expect things to be a LOT liek the movie Pleasantville, picture perfect and everyone acts in a pleasant manner. Its the only place in the world I can go and totally be myself, wiht out worrying what other people think! Ya knwo a LOT of people think im gay, could swear it up and down... but the sad truth is.. im not! I dont let it worry me, I look at it this way, Some guys have 'Tricked out Cars' ... I ahve a Tricked out house :) And thats good enough for me.

1950s Atomic Ranch House said...

I've always marched to the beat of my own drummer. Kids picked on me when I was young, you think it bothers me now when I am old? lol... No.

I work at home so luckily I don't need to deal with co-workers and dress codes, but I have so much yet to do on my house I have not collected nor worn any vintage clothes in a long time. The weather here is hot, hot hot, so as much as I love dresses with slips and hose, not gonna happen here most of the year regardless.

And since I both live and work in my house, I try to enjoy what I have every day, enjoy browsing eBay auctions (thrifts no longer have anything good anymore) and listen to music from the 40's when I feel like it.

I envy those of you who have homes that are already decorated and now have the time to dress vintage, I hope to do so one of these days lol...

Oh and I watch a lot of old movies, too. =)

Zootsuitmama said...

Oh wow! Thanks for the quick responses! Mick-I think you are special as can be! You are just a talented guy and have great taste to boot! How many people just want to be around someone as fun as you?
and...'50's atomic ranch...Thanks for always responding to my blog!I know how it is to try and be yourself and have people say things. No-it doesn't bother me really, but does make me wonder how someone can just blurt things out like, "Oh, you are so weird! What is that? You look like an old lady wearing an old dress!" Well, that's ok. I try to skate a thin line by dressing appropriately for work, but adding some retro touches. And, lucky you! If I worked at home, I wouldn't get much done, though-I'm too easily distracted. Zootsuitmama

Hope said...

I think I have always had a retro vibe, evben as a kid. In school, it didn't go over well until high school when 'The Stray Cats' brought rockabilly to the forefront and suddenly I was in style! These days, the only person making any remarks is my hubby and I just ignore him. lol

Straight Talking Mama! said...

I've been dressing like this for longer than I care to remember well I am 43, but I also came in from the music side of things, so music & clothes came first for me and home after that. Although I don't have the ideal home I hope to one day!

Miss Emmi said...

For me, it's important to express my vintage style in the way that I dress, as I still live at home and don't have my own space that I can decorate in a way that I want. When it comes to work, the uniform code is pretty strict - I just wear high heels, a high waisted pencil skirt, seamed stockings and a slick of red lipstick. That's often enough to get reactions out of customers anyway about the way that I dress!

A lot of the time, people's comments get me down (it is amazing how some people feel entitled to make such rude remarks to strangers) - but at the end of the day, this is the style that -I- love, and that's what should be most important - making myself happy.

Brittany_Va-VoomVintage said...

I'm a stay at home momma so during the day, I wear a lot of vintage house dresses or vintage inspired looks. Since I have a 7 month old, I wear vintage clip on earrings so I don't get my earrings ripped out. As far as work is concerned, I'm a momma and housewife so when I'm doing major housework or am in danger of getting puked on, I opt for anything machine washable. Sensible shoes are a must for normal days but when we go out, I do wear heels and carry one of my favorite vintage purses instead of the usual diaper bag! As far as people getting me down, I have mostly only ever had positive reactions. I did have one girl give me the stink eye once but I just stared right back at her and gave her the up-and-down about her jeans and t-shirt and nasty scrunchy wearing hair! Most of the time, people are just curious and that's why they look. I get comments like "are you going somewhere special or is that just the way you roll? And I say "it's just the way I roll!" I try to keep a classic look and avoid anything obnoxious to minimize negative attention. Still, I'm pretty brazen when it comes to the hair. I rock the big faux bang and victory rolls all the time and people seem to really love it! It's nice to be able to inspire people to put effort into how they look before they leave the house.

Zootsuitmama said...

That is fantastic! So many different points of view already! I never felt more "vintage" than when I stayed home, kept house, cooked, baked bread and stayed home with my babies! It's all in the feeling, but the decor and style is extra fun!! ZSM

Amber Von Felts said...

The response to this post is great! I really enjoyed reading all of your experiences! As for myself, I used to work in a clothing boutique where you could dress up any way you wanted. I mixed a lot of new with old back then and made sure to wear at least one vintage accent. Usually it was a enamel flower pin or jewelry. Oh the days of being girly! Now I work in a sign shop and if I had bangles on, I'd lose my arm in the machinery, eep! I have however found my One True Vintage Love and ultimate accessories, I don't go anywhere without it or should I say I can't go anywhere without it....Its my old Dodge Dart Station Wagon! That car is the best vintage I own and short of the day I have kids (if ever) I will love that car like a baby! I miss my vintage look when it comes to clothes but the car turns heads no matter what I'm wearing!

Chickens in the Basement said...

As I find vintage items, I add them to my repertoire. I wish I had more vintage clothes, but I'm a jeans and baggy shirt kind of girl. But I love my vintage earrings and rhinestone necklaces and don't hesitate to throw them on with my Levi's! My glasses are a retro style, too. My mom recently suggested I look into a pair of frameless glasses (the frame barely shows). No way! My glasses are a way I decorate my face!

Zootsuitmama said...

Chickens-I love your glasses! Don't you dare! Everyone, thanks for such great comments.Amber Von Felts, I want a Dodge Dart!!Everyone has such a neat and unique style - I love it! Spread the word to all your blogfriends cuz I love hearing these stories! ZSM

Beth said...

I like to mix it upin every area of my life. my house is a mix of mid century modern and contemporary/industrial. It is amazing how well those two styles work together. I love mixing vintage with contemporary in my clothing- and not even one day rockabilly and one day Beatnik- I wear contemporary tops with mod skirts and thow a pink feather boa over the whole thing.
I read a lot of fashion blogs and I feel like people who just stick to todays style, whether it is housewares or clothing-are really missing out on some great design. Even though styles come back and get reproduced for each generation- the original items always hold the test of time.

Zootsuitmama said...

YEs! I have definitely had the house really eclectic at times. I usually gradually gravitate back to the 40's and 50's to feel comfortable. But clotheswise, I seem to have to mix. Sizes are either huge or tiny etc. But, I love lots of clothes eras. Thanks everybody for great responses! ZSM

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