Any vintage fans?

[Gingernaut]

Hi.

Over the past couple of years, I've been trying to lose weight.

Unless it's something I really need, I've been going to charity shops to buy clothes as I shrink.

I've still got about 50lb or 23kg to lose so I don't want to lash out and buy new as it will be a waste.

At a modern size 14, I've become a fan of vintage clothing, look out for the real old stuff and have been to a couple of vintage fairs.

However, online and in life, the dealers seem to have loads of blouses, dresses, jackets and coats, but little by way of trousers.

I understand that women rarely wore trousers until the 70s, but even then, I can't find any trousers except from the 80s and 90s.

as an aside, the 80s are now vintage. I feel old

Are there any vintage fans who know where all the trousers suits and jeans are?

Size 14 is roughly size 16 or size 18 depending on the decade.

I'm a vintage fan too. It took me a while to come to terms with the 80s being vintage but then I realised it's no different from me buying 40s stuff in the 70s.

I don't buy anything second hand online so it's real shopping only for me. Luckily we have a couple of decent vintage shops which even still get the odd 1940s thing and I go to vintage fairs and also weigh n pay sales, although they;re mostly 90s onwards.

But I do stick mainly to jackets and coats these days. I've bought some trousers but they've been the 80s pleated, tapered style (I've chopped a few inches off the hem to make them ankle length). I've not tried jeans, but I've seen quite a lot of denim at weigh and pay sales.

Sorry that's probably of limited help. There's at least one poster who wears a lot of vintage and has an amazing wardrobe by the sound of things. Hopefully she'll turn up soon.

Do they have to be actual vintage or is vintage style ok? There are lots of good vintage style sites and shops out there, although sometimes they can be on the pricey side.

Try places like deadlyisthefemale.com, voluptuousvintage.com, or pinupgirlclothing.com if you're ok with brand new

Thanks.

Like you, I have to see and feel what I'm buying.

I've only been to a few, very quiet fairs so it sounds like I need to get out to more.

I prefer vintage to retro. I don't wear skirts or dresses at all and have a 1970s mini dress which I wear as a tunic over ankle grazer trousers.

In the 30's and 40's women wore mens trousers rather than trousers made for women.

If you want some in vintage style try www.collectif.co.uk/clothes-c1/trousers-c15

If you don't mind repro vintage then Collectif have a nice range of trousers.

Born in 1968, the Second World War was over 23/24 years previously.

1987 was the year I started full time employment. 😲

The people who could afford good quality clothing from back then are now dying off, their wardrobes are being cleared out and all the 'good' brands are appearing in the charity shops. ☹

Ooooooh! Thank you.

Also, other brands are Banned, He'll Bunny and Voodoo vixen. Now I've browsed and want some- damn!!

Sorry I'll leave you alone in a minute ;) just thought - if you have Facebook there are loads of vintage clothes selling and swapping groups e.g one called 'dolly and dotty / Lady V / Lindy bop / Joanie / Retro Buy, sell, swap and chat' (very snappy name!) where you could post and ask if anyone had anything in your size.

Thank you! Plenty to look through there.

Hello! I love vintage :) vintage trousers are elusive for me, however (sorry, that isn't much help) - in part because trousers rarely suit me.

Lots of people swear by vivien of holloway trousers (retro, but not cutesy - well, some of it is a little tropical for my taste but their pencil skirts are fab). Otherwise I think you just need to trawl etsy and follow vintage sellers on instagram for 40s slacks.

In terms of vintage stores and fairs, would thoroughly recommend Hammersmith vintage fair and Blackout2 vintage in Covent Garden.

I hope that helps! :)

If you're on Facebook follow Lou Lous Vintage Fair. They advertise them all over the country.

www.facebook.com/LouLousVintageFair/

Thanks Gah81

The closest place for vintage would be Birmingham, but I'll carry on trawling the local chazzas as well.

I've just been there!

The main vintage fair that comes to us is Lou lous which seems to tour the country or at least my part of it.

My best pickings recently have been weigh and pay sales like this one They're 99% crap but I've only once come away from one empty handed. They get very busy but it's mostly young students wanting the flowery dresses and the jeans whereas I'm after tweed and 1960s coats and jackets.

Ah Reinette beat me to it

Floisme have you tried www.atomretro.com

for tweed and 1960s coats and jackets

I haven't Reinette but I will do, thank you!

I've never really thought about the lack of vintage trousers. I can understand it pre 1970s but there were loads in the shops from then onwards (although still disapproved of). I've been looking for some velvet wide legs recently. (I stupidly got rid of all but one pair - should know better). There should be tons of them knocking around and yet and all I've managed to find is one pair of comedy flares. I haven't asked myself why until now.

I like ReinettePompadour suggested site. Those are awesome trousers :) I am also a fan of vintage items. If I had a choice I would live during that era! :D

I buy quite a lot of 40s and 50s and don't come across trousers much... I went to a fashion archive once - the archivist showed us some rayon beach pyjamas and said that they were comparatively rare in good condition because they'd have been worn so much/people were quite active in them so they tended to get worn and thrown away. Skirts and dresses would have been better looked after. Maybe the same with trousers?

Yes that makes sense, same reason why it's relatively easy to get vintage party dresses but you can't find decent knitwear for love nor money. I'm still a bit surprised about trousers though because they weren't quite so everyday. You couldn't wear them for work, for example as lots of employers wouldn't allow it.

Decent vintage trousers have always been like hens teeth and it's only getting worse. Guess it makes sense that coats last better. Also need to consider, um, hygiene considerations esp back in the days before machine washables. Just don't last as well!

Thought so. Thanks for all your suggestions.

What bugs me though is that as soon as someone says "vintage", people automatically assume 40s and 50s.

Admittedly, the 70s and 80s are the times that taste forgot, but there were some nice clothes made and worn then.

Yes 70s and 80s are much under rated. But 90s is just re-heated 70s.

To be honest, the word 'vintage' still bugs me. I know I need to let it go but it was all 'second hand' - not to mention a fraction of the price - until Kate Moss discovered it. And don't get me started on 'pre-loved'.