I love a good cape. The armhole placement on this vintage gem is just right so I don't even get my arms and purse tangled up as I go about my life (you know how that happens with capes...). Besides the fact that capes automatically make you a superhero, they also allow you to walk away from a conversation with a big flounce.
Not that I often have need to walk away with a flounce...
Except maybe last week when I dropped a 50's prom dress off at the tailor for a new zipper. I was excitedly talking about how much I loved the dress and my friend, the tailor, was admiring the handiwork on the rather intricate skirt when another customer laughed at the dress and said she would not even pay $50 for it. I literally felt the blood rush to my face in anger and then I might have said something about how she didn't even care that her clothes were made by children in Bangladesh.
Now, she was totally rude for bursting my bubble and making fun of a dress that I was clearly enamoured with. That said, I should have chilled out and not let myself go to cheap shots. I do think it is important for people to realize where their clothes are coming from but I just reduced an entire subject that deserves conversation and consideration into a one liner. And while I am more conscious than I used to be, it's not like I never shop fast fashion... There is so much to discuss concerning the garment production industry and I handled it like a snarky hypocrite...
So, what did we learn from this moment? First of all, that not every one appreciates a great vintage dress. Secondly, I should not complain because that lady is going to be the one who donates all her mother's vintage dresses one day because she thinks they are junk. And finally, I need to flounce away instead of getting petty... Let that be my motto, 'flounce it out!'...
25 comments :
Ugh, I see this shit all the time when I go into vintage stores. People who are just there for kicks and hold things up to their friends and say, "Ew, who would WEAR this?!"
While I love the idea of just floucing it out, I do like that you said something! Maybe it's the first time anyone has brought that to her attention. And who better to do that than the fabulously you!
End rant. You look lovely, I want to snuggle up in that cape and eat all the candy.
xx,
Lora
I don't think it's possible to be as eloquent as you mean to be in the moment. I know I never am. Don't feel too bad about it. At least you said something at all, and whether or not it changes her mind, at least you didn't just hang back and let the opportunity pass.
Changing the subject, that bag!!! I love it, but also, how do you avoid making it too heavy? If I had a bag like that, I wouldn't be able to lift it. My bags fill up with junk proportional to their size, and I have bags half the size of yours that give me sore shoulders at the end of the day ha ha.
That cape is glorious!
I'm definitely guilty of fast fashion, especially for my kids, but I like to think I appreciate the effort that goes into a well made garment and I definitely go for handmade more and more as years progress!
That lady was seriously rude. I say good for you for putting her in her place! Also, I love this outfit - it's cool how you have your signature pieces, like that necklace and the huge holdall - that are just instantly recognizable!
I still kick myself for not buying the beautiful cream wool cape I found at my thrift last year. :(
ella
TX
I don't think you were totally wrong for responding to rudeness with rudeness, but just for the sake of discussion, I'd like to point out that many of us are not educated in what makes a great dress great.
Your opening shot about clothes made in Bangladesh by children may have been the first time she thought about such a thing... and she still doesn't know what makes the dress great. But now every time she sees a dress like that she will think of that moment and she won't ever adjust her attitude.
I'm delurking at maybe a terrible time, because I enjoy your blog & follow you on Facebook. I do think I'm learning about how to think about clothes differently from watching you. Hopefully as your shop develops you'll be a great resource for educating people about great clothes and you can be part of bringing quality back to fashion. Until then, I hope you can find some patience for those of us who were brought up to think that cheap clothes and Wonder bread were a good idea...
Flounce on sista! That lady deserved a good verbal beat down, but way to take the high road--I probably wouldn't have. *blush* At any rate, you are so right and I think it is one of the most conscious things about thrifting that not a lot of people consider--that and how it helps the environment. So boo on her. And yay for capes with proper sleeve placement (it IS important).
Melissa- I use it as my overnight bag. We went away this weekend:)
Cindy Ash- I just wrote a huge long comment and then I accidentally deleted it on my phone. I will say that I totally regretted how I had an outburst after the fact, there were better ways I could have handled that. I'll respond more when I get behind a real computer:)
I always thought that cape only goes with skinny jeans but you rock it girl !
J.Crew Necklace Giveaway on happymedley.blogspot.com
Oh man, I don't think I could have bit my tongue either! Glad you put her in her place. How rude!
Great look girl. I have a pair of J Brand Lovestory jeans and have worn them SO much! Such a great pair of denim!
Bold Subtlety
Long time reader, first time commenter :)
I opened a vintage shop in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan just over a year and a half ago and my tolerance for "made in Bangladesh" garments has steadily plummeted ever since. We are so brainwashed into thinking that clothing should cost $5 and that everything else is expensive... some people get it, but there's a lot of people that don't, and don't see any issue with paying that much for something that was made thousands of miles away in terrible working conditions. It's nuts!
So glad to hear you're opening a shop, you've got great style and a great eye! Best of luck to you, remember that it takes a good two years to get established, and there are going to be some terrible terrible days ahead where you seriously doubt yourself. Those pass. If you ever need an ear, drop me a line :)
Such a gorgeous autumnal outfit and your hair is simply perfect. I can't believe that lady was so rude to you, then again, some people are just too honest when they don't need to say anything at all -- it's not like you asked for her opinion! I think you did the right thing by speaking up, and hopefully she learned her lesson. There have been too many times when I didn't defend myself and I should've.
Yet another reason for me to own a cape! :o) I adore your bag...I think I could put everything AND the kitchen sink in there. But of course, then it'd be pretty dang heavy!
www.dressupnotdown.blogspot.com
Your cape is gorgeous--and I was so glad to see you wearing it, as just today I found a 40s Marshall Field's cape and thought, "Can I pull this off?" Thanks for the visual inspiration.
We all ave those moments when we lash out. We also have moments when we wish we had. What matters is that your dress is rad and she is the worst.
Also, I would like to build a time machine so I can travel back to when that capes was sold in stores so I can buy it. awesome.
This one time I called a construction worker "HI DAD!" cause he cat called me in my kilt.. that was rude of me.
"Flounce it out" is a fantastic motto.
People who go to thrift stores to be sarcastic about clothing probably don't have the wit, or class to appreciate a properly stitched seam, the way a hem falls, or good-quality fabric.
Let her donate her mama's vintage clothing...and relish the gems that you find.
You flounce girl!!
Thrifty Parka
p.s. you look seriously STUNNING!
I think you handled the situation pretty well. I likely would have beat her with that kick-ass bag then used it to hide the body.
OK, in reality I would have slunk away with hurt feelings then imagined the kick-ass bag scenario later to sooth my poor bruised self esteem.
Lesson from this incident? Aquire more capes!
Cindy Ash- Hey, took me a while to get back:)
When I was originally asking the tailor to fix the zipper and we were discussing the dress, the other lady interrupted and asked how I could possibly know it was from the 50's. I told her that I could tell from the silhouette, the materials, construction and zipper. She said it could easily have been made today. Then the tailor said that the workmanship on the skirt would be too expensive to reproduce today and that is when she luaghed at the dress and said she wouldn't pay $50...
I should have let it slide off me and I am always willing to share my knowledge (though the more I gain, the more I realize I don't know...)but I guess I was riding off of starting a new shop and this lady's attitude kinda crushed that. It was still an unfair shot to take.
But thanks for commenting. You are inspiring me to start taking good thrift finds and dissecting them again for a blog post to show why they are good. I did that a few years back and I should start again... I certainly do take some clothing facts for granted and never really consider that others may not have been exposed to them...
Thanks for being kind enough to reply more fully and also for not being angry at me for my comment. The full story makes a huge difference. I never thought that woman wasn't rude, but the additional details in the story make her not just rude but intentionally, inexcusably rude.
I would love to see more breakdowns of quality construction, etc. Also some "how-tos" for how you make decisions when you reconstruct vintage pieces to make them current, how to identify a great tailor and not just someone who understands how to make alterations, and how you strategize vintage vs. mall-type purchases. You are beautiful and fashion is your passion. I love your blog because everything you wear looks like a work of art. I'm older, less beautiful, and I have a completely different lifestyle, but I still want to have fun looking good and also to shop responsibly. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Rocking outfit! The cape, the necklace, the shades, the bag, the pearls - just perfect.
I probably would have responded the same way in the heat of the moment. Sadly, our demand for lower and lower prices hasn't just led to inferior quality; it's also educated (maybe even re educated!) many to not even know quality when they see it. I will mourn the day when all I can find in the thrift shop is mass market junk - a day that will surely come.
It's interesting living in France now as there is such a reverence for quality and locally -produced goods. I wonder if that's why thrifting isn't much of a pastime in the region where I am, because French women hang onto wonderful pieces that truly do last a lifetime?
Looking forward to hearing more of your shop.
Kelly
Grrrrr. That lady makes me so angry. Seriously. If you think that way, fine, but you don't have to be rude. People! But, you are right - she will certainly give away some exquisite pieces at some point in her life. I only hope you are lucky enough to snatch them up - like, that bag! Super cute!
xoxo,
Laura
http://lauraisthriftingthroughlife.blogspot.com/
MY GOD you look good. Wow.
Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence. See the link below for more info.
#temper
www.ufgop.org
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