Wednesday, October 23, 2013

The Sixties

Dressing in vintage clothes teaches you many lessons.  Interesting lessons.

People who didn't live through the 1960's often associate it only with hippies and bold fashion.  But that development didn't start until the late Sixties.  The early and mid-60's were different.  They were a mix of Fifties traditionalism and newly-discovered freedom.  In women's clothes, this translates into conventional dress-styles but in brighter colors and more interesting fabrics.

Tamera recently gave me a vintage dress from the Sixties.  Like today, orange was popular.  The style of the dress is traditional and could be from an earlier time but its vibrant color is definitely 60-ish.
I'm wearing it here with matching scarf, jewelry and lipstick. 

I feel like an off-duty stewardess.  (They weren't called "flight attendants" back then and they weren't male.)  I'm in between flights and looking for a wild party, preferably one with movie stars and athletes.

To be historically accurate -- and because the dress reveals one's shape very clearly -- I am wearing what today is called "shapewear" but, back then, was called a girdle.  Despite being torturous, there is something irresistibly feminine about girdles, at least to me.  They are a sign of how hard women are willing to work to look good.  I'm willing to squeeze myself into one of these garments, just like my mother was.  I actually delight in the process.

Any thoughts?


 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

24 comments:

  1. This dress is a fantastic fit on you. It looks like a double knit fabric. Am I right?

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  2. This is perfect! I love vintage clothing. This particular dress looks so chic. It looks expensive.

    Honestly, I wouldn't even have known you were wearing shapewear if you hadn't mentioned it. I don't wear them, but I've always wondered how they would look. Isn't it funny how words (much like fashion) change over time? I prefer the word "Girdle" over "shapewear" any day!

    xo Azu

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  3. Ally--I LOVE how you styled the dress!!!! You look like one of those swinging stewardesses who's party with Dean Martin the pilot on layovers!!

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  4. Such smooth lines under that dress! Ugh, if only girdles could work their magic AND be comfortable.
    It's a great outfit! and I really like the way the makeup looks subtle and yet matches the outfit so well!

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  5. This is one of my favourites from you, looks so beautiful. Love the dress. I adore the 60s for fashion. I love how it draws inspiration from my favourite fashion decade which is the 50s. I also like the bright colours that emerged towards the end of the 60s.

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  6. Really gorgeous dress on you, Ally (Tamera's awesome!) - accessories, hair, and makeup just perfect too! The early 60s are absolutely fascinating.

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  7. Ooh, what a soft and lovely color of orange. The cut suits you so nicely! I especially love the bright flare of the scarf- feels very 'Ally'.

    My thoughts on shapewear are that I like them as an option but not as an expectation. We're a long way from negating pressure for women to look a certain way, but ideally I'd like stuff like girdles/corsets, makeup, and so on as a fun opt-in. :D

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  8. This dress looks great on you and I love the scarf!

    I hate shape wear, but I'm a big fan of high waisted panties, what some might call "granny panties", if they have some shape wear properties. I think the right ones look vintage pin-up. Plus, they work better on my body than low rise styles.

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  9. Ooooh, this is sooo pretty. Love the soft colors. It fits like it was made for you. Very flattering and a wonderful length. You accessorized beautifully. Love the stockings and make up too.
    I don't think I've every worn any type of shapewear. I must not have ever worn anything fancy enough to need it. I can't stand to feel constricted though so I would probably not wear something that required it. You don't even know how quick I can get out of my clothes and undergarments and into my pj's once I get home. haha

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  10. Such a pretty dress and color on you. A girdle your brave aren't you!!!

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  11. Super cute! That dress was made for you. :)

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  12. What a darling dress! I love the cut of it and the bow detail is adorable!

    -Sharon
    The Tiny Heart

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  13. Love this! I love the looks of the 60's - I could see you walking on the set of Mad Men and totally fitting in no problem!

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  14. I have a piece of my heart in vintage anything. Clothing included.
    I think you look marvelous here, the color looks specially good on you.

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  15. You look fabulous in this style of dress. I think it suits you very well.

    I've never actually worn shapewear. I've always had a deep love of corsetry and tightlacing, but I've never felt like I would be able to indulge in it often enough to warrant ordering a quality, worthwhile corset. I do enjoy lurking around corsetry communities and oogling the beautifully constructed garments.

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  16. I remember the 60s very well. My mom going out in long gloves and a wrap to the movies or to dinner.

    We had a neighbor who used to walk the neighborhood visiting neighbors in her mink stole. She had no where else to wear it, so she just pranced down the side walk and sat out on front porches chatting up a storm.

    Remember those wraps with the animal's heads and tails on them? Ugh!

    BTW, you "wook mar-va-rous"! :=)

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    1. Ah, yes! Those wraps were the height of fashion to my parents' generation. That's a funny story about your neighbor. I totally understand her impulse.

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  17. I think you should use shapewear more often Allly, it really makes a difference to your shape.

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  18. I think I am insanely jealous that you own such a lovely vintage dress! It looks perfect on you - PERFECT.

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    1. P.S. Did you wear the shape wear all day? That is the true measure of torture...lol. I have a shape wear slip I wear with some jersey dresses. I'm practically crying by the time I get home - to get it off and BREATHE :o

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    2. No, but... I often want to feel female experiences like that, so even though it isn't required or even practical, I'll do something like wear shapewear all day just to see what it feels like. Some of my experiments in this direction would seem odd to people who don't understand why I'm doing them. Even extremely odd. But I don't tell anyone or push it in their face so there's no need for them to judge me. On the other hand, I usually wish there was someone I could share these experiences with, even if it was simply confiding about them. I need a BFF!

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