Rust variations on late 1920's casual-collegiate-sportswear

Whilst a decidedly cold spring makes wearing a sensible coat and hat still necessary, it doesn't mean one cannot have some fun doing just that. For me, introducing a tie in the scheme always goes a long length to provide that fun (the one above is probably the favourite in my little collection). And as you can see from these scans from the Sears catalogues showing late 20s/ early 30's sports and casual wear, I am not alone in that thought. 

These are the fashions that I like best, but recreating them is not easy, mainly due to the scarcity and high prices of these vintage items. For example the search for a typical everyday shirt of this period,  albeit a basic utilitarian item, is not for the faint hearted, nor is it for those on a budget. There are places that specialize in quality reproductions, but again one needs to be prepared to part with significant sums of money in order to obtain those.

I am finding that the vintage market in general is becoming more and more exclusive, with  prices that have rocketed over the last year in particular, in some cases reaching rather staggering amounts.There are of course reasons why this happens, the bottom line being an increased demand for a very  limited product. There is also the argument that the quality of craftsmanship in those vintage garments commands their high price, which is a matter of course until you notice that even examples in a pretty shabby state can be far from cheap.

All of which doesn't make it any easier for  those like me whose aesthetic interests are not matched by a relevant spending power, but then I guess I've touched upon this subject a number of times on this blog. I certainly envy those that have the skills to make their own clothes, as it seems the only way to go. When that is not possible, the last resource is to look into more recent vintage or modern clothing that one could style to emulate their beloved fashions. This is what I end up doing most of the time.

1928/29 sportswear

And so I am yet to find the perfect plaid pleated skirt to fit the bill, so but this 70's wool skirt is very serviceable and I find that I can integrate it fairly successfully in earlier period style outfits. Apart from the brown & orange stripe tie, it is the only other vintage garment built into these outfits. 

The rust coat is a second hand Topshop item that I thought had a definite late 20's silhouette to it, the burnt orange cloche is another modern buy that I customized, and the Bronte straw hat is my most recent purchase in a boutique the other day - at £45 a guilt charged splash and the most expensive item worn here. 

I rarely buy anything new at full price because things are rarely worth the money, and this is no exception. I just gave in to my weakness for hats. Bad, bad girl!

Golf outfit, cca 1930, 

from 1930's Fashion: The Definitive Sourcebook

I love these outfits that play with my favourite look, some sort of hybrid between sports, collegiate and casual wear inspired by fashions from around 1928-1931. They may not be authentic, but they are a lot of fun to wear, and I guess there's some thrill in managing to create the look with very limited means. 

Having said that, there is nothing like the real stuff, which is the very thing that fuels this dream I'm forever chasing...

Variations on teal and vintage silhoettes

 

Today I played in my wardrobe. I do this sometimes, living some sort of late childhood I guess. Perhaps all things not done in due time come back with a vengeance and haunt one later in life? If so, it is so far a case of enjoyable haunting, because this game is rather fun. There are no rules to it, no system, it starts differently each time. I may try to build an outfit around a bag, reconstruct a vintage silhouette with improvised, modern means, absolutely die if I don't try out the latest hat to come in the post with everything I have, or simply be bugged by a tenth of an idea that I've picked somewhere, without remember where, or what exactly is that made me feel inspired. So I play...and today is teal.

The outfit above I struggled a bit with. Modern fashions do fall short of their vintage counterpart, and this 20's style outfit smells wannabe from a distance. The only old thing is the coral necklace, so that's fair enough. The rest consists of a modern turtleneck (the only thing bought new) with a silk short sleeve top from French Connection layered on top, a home made knitted skirt, and Pas de Rouge shoes. These I had been drooling over for a couple of years in a local store, thinking how wonderfully comfortable yet stylish and vintage looking they were, only to be so lucky as to find them at some point on ebay, good as new, in my size! I still paid a fair amount for them but nothing compared to what they retail at.

Here I'm wearing the 20's bag shown in a previous post with a Jigsaw hat that matches in colour, which I have reshaped into a cloche, the same basic top and a 70's skirt with a pleated detail at the front picked on etsy, thick ribbed tights from TK Maxx, a Hobbs belt and my Alfred Sargent shoes which were again a very lucky buy. They were an ebay buy in fact, the same as the belt, bag and hat (I know, I'm a junkie!). I like this outfit, but somehow I don't think I've quite managed to shake the 70's out of it.

 

  

Not a lot of changes, yet a different look with a beret and scarf from Accessorize, and a Deco lizard skin bag which I am very determinately clutching, although in spite of what the picture may suggest, not with something like 6 fingers :). I have worn this outfit to work since (without the bag), and I am pretty much sold on it. 

I was finding quite difficult to integrate this skirt in my wardrobe, as everything that I was trying to pair it with screamed old lady, but this seems to work. My husbands still hates the skirt with a passion though.

Finally getting out of the teal top only to throw it over the shoulders and swap it with another turtleneck , this time from Jigsaw (it's Garbo's fault!). And blimey, I have some tights in the same shade! I love it when this happens, as opposed to the usual frustration of not being able to match things (see how the hat and the teal jumper clash?!...). I went for another 20's look, inspired by the colours in my newest hat, a Mad Hatters creation in teal with cute wine velvet bows.

And right at the end of the game, guess what came out of the wardrobe? A 50's wool plaid skirt that  I am having forever trouble accessorizing - but not anymore! - and a Karen Millen velvet vest. All but the tights were second hand buys, and this unlikely pairing produced the most delightful and bizarrely quite authentic looking 20's ensemble. I was so happy with this I took numerous pics which I will share with you in my next post. 

So if you hate it, this a good time to look away :)!