Goodwood Revival Style Tips

[BombusBombus]

We are going to the revival in September. Any ideas what I should wear? (Tall size 16 hourglass)
And what about DH and the kids? (One boy, one girl)

MrsMcEnroe, what kind of things have they been buying?

Hi, they've been buying 1940s tea dress and suits, and 1950s/early 60s dresses - either full-skirted (with or without net petticoats to swish them out underneath) or the sheath-like "wiggle" style. 40s dresses tended to have collars, buttons and a pleated or a-line skirt; for 50s/early-mid 60s style, think of the movie "Grease" or the first two series of Mad Men! - before the mini skirt period :)
Original 1950s/60s dresses are much easier to come by than original 1940s ones due to the fact that cloth was rationed during the war, and fewer clothes were made and owned then.

Platform shoes and courts are authentic 40s shoe styles; courts, kitten heels and stilettos are all authentic 50s &60s shoes styles.
If you don't want to, or can't, wear original vintage there are some very good vintage copies on eBay - if you search for "40s dresses" or "50s dresses" you will see what I mean.
Have a look at www.coutureallure.com for pictures of fashion from the 40s and 50s - it will help you to see how to out things together.
You can put together a vintage-style wardrobe easily by shopping in the high street, but if you do have the chance to wear vintage I would thoroughly recommend it! Vintage, for those who don't know, means genuine, original pieces from the 1920s to the (shudder) 1980s; "retro" means a newly-made piece in a vintage style. Cath Kidston is not vintage!! . Vintage us not necessarily any more expensive than modern clothing. Check out eBay and www.etsy.com ... And your local vintage shops of course!

please do PM me if I can help further

P.S. your DH can get away with a well-cut suit, a trilby or fedora-style hat (no need to trawl for vintage - just get one on eBay for a few pounds, as vintage hats are usually too small) and either a wide tie or a cravat. Or he could buy/hire a vintage military uniform.

Re your kids - depends - what ages? I've recently sorted out a very slim, waif-like 15-yo girl with a beautiful 1950s tight bodiced, full-skirted swishy dress for Goodwood; her sister went for a similar style but more strappy up top and their mum bought a 50s silk 2 piece which had a below-knee pencil skirt, and a gorgeous little hat, somewhere between a pillbox and a cloche. Pearls and gloves optional.

My parents go, and they're not massively into the dressing up thing themselves (though the people-watching others who have made massive efforts is part of the fun). My mum generally borrows my high street fake fur cape and wears some vaguely retro shoes, my dad just does cream linen blazer, straw boater etc etc. Nothing excessive, just enough to look like they could be background extras in an Agatha Christie Poirot.

Sorry, I've just read the whole thread and seen your DCs' ages. Your idea for DS is good. For DD, most of the prom or party dresses from somewhere such as Next or Monsoon would do the job...

The dresses that have been linked to above are all great. I prefer Vivienne if Holloway but they are pricier. There's also a good brand called Lindy Bop which you can buy on eBay and costs about £30-40 for a dress.... The sizing is spot-on too, I've bought a 50s full-skirted repro dress and a 40s repro tea dress from them and the measurements were perfect...

I think I love you MrsMcEnro!

Lindy Bop have their own site - here

Ooh MrsLettuce I didn't know that - thank you!!!

I've just bought 2 silk-blend wiggle dresses on eBay (original vintage) for £25 each including postage. They are stunning and unique. Now that I'm 40 I feel that I'm grown-up enough to wear dresses every day!

I can't do vintage shoes though. My feet are too fat!

OP - if you have an hourglass figure I think a wiggle dress would look gorgeous on you

I have this one www.lindybop.co.uk/red-polka-dot-bow-shawl-collar-vintage-1950s-rockabilly-swing-party-dress-881-p.asp

And this one but in navy www.lindybop.co.uk/classy-black-polka-dot-vintage-ww2-landgirl-40s-50s-pinup-tea-retro-dress-1069-p.asp