Vintage Clothing Myths

I kinda wanna do something different this time around, especially since I got a vintage prom dress.

Top 5 myths about vintage clothing.

5.Vintage isn't for the average person, because it's super expensive to get good stuff.

NOT TRUE AT ALL!!!!!!! I really don't get people who think everything is too this and that. I once bought a denim Mickey Mouse varsity jacket for $10, and it didn't even need repairs, alterations etc.

Yeah, I get that those PERFECT, Dior gowns cost upwards of $700  (at least the gorgeous 1950's chartreuse number my fave boutique has-EVEN IF IT IS SIZE 4). But the truth of the matter is that like anything else, vintage has a price range, and it's always suited to the age and quality of the
garment. For example, I saw this adorable 1980's black jewelled clutch for 50 bucks down from 200, but it was super damaged, and it was irreparable. Obviously, sewing on a button etc. isn't a big deal, but big things are important to look out for.

4.Vintage clothes shouldn't ever be changed or altered.

WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!!!!!!  Say you find a great garment, whatever it is for whatever price it is. We'll use this yellow day dress from Cabaret Vintage.

So, it's a 37"bust, and say your bust size is 34". There is nothing wrong with taking it to your alteration guy and having it taken in. It will look better, fit better, and you'll love how it will look on you. So, take my advice, just do it.

3.Vintage clothes shouldn't be worn, they should just be looked at and stored properly.

Where do you people get this advice? Vintage should be worn and ENJOYED. I'm only going to get so much out of looking at my prom dress in my closet before I'm going to break down and put it on. Your house in not a museum, so just wear the stuff. Especially if your wedding gown is vintage, because you'll only wear it once. And furthermore, vintage evening wear has usually only ever been worn a couple of times, so as long as it's properly stored (Keep it in your closet, away from light with one of those cedar block hanger things and you're good) this is not a problem. Which leads me to my next point:

2.Vintage clothes aren't practical, so don't buy them.

Yes they are!!!!! Now, if a certain fashion loving friend from summer camp, with a name that starts with B and ends with an E is reading, you know what I'm talking about. But first, let me tell you a story. Being a sewing fanatic has it's downsides, like going through withdrawals when you don't have fabric and scissors in hand. So naturally camp brought this out of me, and when said friend told me she ripped her pants, I was happy to fix them up. She brought me 1930's WOOL TROUSERS and asked me if I could fix them. Of course I did. She didn't tell me they were vintage until after I finished sewing them up. Those pants were F****** INDESTRUCTABLE. I wish I had a pair (she's also curvy so I know I could find another pair out there that could fit me) because they would be awesome walking to school in Toronto winters. Hell, my parents made me buy jeans with red flannel lining because I wouldn't shut up about how cold it was sprinting to school in my Canada Goose Chiliwack parka, Sorel boots and American Eagle Jegging.

Now before you all lynch me, let me say this. I get it, some vintage simply isn't practical, like a lot of clothes. A 1920's flapper dress with cotton thread and tons of beading can't be dry cleaned, and needs a lot of undergarments to look good in. A Dior original gown is probably super delicate and REALLY EXPENSIVE. Again, pointing to the same friend, why do you need a vintage wedding dress. With a train. At camp. I know it was $30, but why? And finally:

1.Vintage clothes are small because people were smaller then.

  

Have you people watched Mad Men? 

That is such b*******. Like today, there were men and women of all sizes and shapes, so the next person who tells me that is going to get hurt. Just saying. The size 2's and 4's are still around because, like today, they were worn by only a small percentage of the population. The average woman wears size 12-16. My grandmother did and still does float between an 8 and a 10. Compare this to Marilyn Monroe dresses that can't even fit on size 2 mannequins. Plus, sizes then were pretty different from sizes today. And this is an exaggeration, but one site said that a vintage 14 was like today's 2 (WTF???) Although, I tried on this black Marilyn-esque column gown from the 70's that was sized as 14. And it didn't have measurements on the tag. And, while it wasn't super flattering, it would have fit me perfectly with some spanx in there. Just saying. Just keep telling this to my dad who saw an Audrey Hepburn esque. black beaded number and insisted I try it on. It was size 4. I am not size 4, I am size 12. You can't magically grow more dress to increase it by 8 dress sizes. IT SIMPLY CAN'T BE DONE!!!!!!

By the way, I tried this one on when I was shopping for my dress:

It's Polyester-ey.

I GIVE UP...

Ok, I can't do this any more. Disney movies are killing off valuable brain cells, that I need because I have three tests this week. And I'm helping the classics department build a chariot. Yes you heard right, a CHARIOT.


AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, I'm fine now. And I haven't been watching a lot of stuff lately because of, well, tests, so I'm in need of ideas. I am out of f****** ideas, so please, please, please post suggestions in the comments and I will try to do them all.

I've been watching Mad Men season 6 kinda off and on, so if you guys have seen it, tell me what you think. I want to do a post on it when I'm done the show because it is the last season, so until them.

Disney Animated Movies Pre-Renaissance

This will be a bit of an unconventional take on the whole Disney, Disney princess, animated Disney renaissance etc. shtick.

While I have my issues with the portrayal of women in those movies, I'm not going to even get into that today when I have Latin verbs to conjugate. You're welcome. Since I set off to do costume design in the scope of movie reviewing and haven't really done enough of that, I'm going to do that now.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs:

I really do think this is one of the few films that actually portrays figures in a, shall we say, natural way. And the costuming is lacklustre at best.


   
Oh god this is going to be a long post. Here goes nothing.



Snow White (1937)

I have no f****** idea. I know that's really weak, but I just have no idea whatsoever.
























Cinderella (1950):

Um...
The women's wear in this film is pretty much late victorian, roughly 1870's. Roughly. This of course doesn't apply for all the outfits, and the stepmother's getup is distinctly 1890's. WHAT GIVES!!!!!!

As for the menswear, it's kinda reminiscent of Tsar Nicolas II's dress uniforms. Which is probably pretty low at best.

Sleeping Beauty (1959):

Ok this one is somewhat easier. Most of the outfits, yes even the elephant in the room that is the pink


and blue dress, are medieval. Prince,whateverhisfaceis, has a REALLY REALLY typically mid 1500's getup so I'm not sure what happened there. I have no idea.

Next up: Disney etc. Animated Movies during and after Renaissance

Things I knew at 16

I stumbled across this earlier in the day and it kind of got me thinking. I feel like I knew most of these things from the time I turned sixteen, but I've also lived as an exception to the rule. My life's never exactly been easy, and I learned very early on in life that there are few people you can count on. There are few things better than curling up on the sofa and watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians, or The World According to Paris or Guliana and Bill, when you've had a miserable day in school. Sometimes, the material goods really are what you need when you're down.

The past couple of years especially have been really hard on me, and I cannot describe the joy I got from watching tgwtg videos on my shitty old pc and now my sleek new mac. It, it always amazes me how much people bitch and moan about how sucky it is that their parents are dragging them along on an international trip, or how much they hate shopping, when it's so fucking insignificant. I know this post isn't film etc. but truthfully, it's been hard to watch suffering onscreen when I think about how much I've gone through.

There are days where I want the world to shut up about Rob Ford, or how "awesome" Justin Trudeau is, because I don't care. I've had and have bigger priorities than anyone my age could ever imagine.

67 Things I Wish I Had Known At 18

Posted by From Rush to Rehab 5 days ago

1. Boys will break your heart. Let them. Learn from it.

2. It’s so easy to become jaded, but don’t let it happen to you. Fight it.

3. Stand firm in your beliefs.

4. Love yourself. Sometimes you’re all you have.

5. Cherish the little things.

6. Order pizza at 3am on a Tuesday. It won’t kill you.

7. It’s okay to laugh at yourself. Embrace the imperfections.

8. You are the rule, not the exception. Life will be so much easier if you accept this now.

9. Make mistakes. If you learn from them, they won’t be in vain.

10. He’s lying, there is no fish tank. Go anyway.

11. Classes can be retaken. Life cannot.

12. Sometimes it’s better to ask for forgiveness than for permission.

13. The world is full of cynics – don’t become one.

14. Stop calling him. Stop texting him. If he wanted you, he’d be there.

15. Apologize when you’re wrong. Just suck up your pride and do it.

16. Bellybutton piercings are a bad idea. As are tattoos.

17. No one is perfect. Stop being so hard on yourself.

18. Hug your friends. Cherish them. Hold them tight.

19. Laugh until you cry. Cry until you laugh.

20. Step outside your comfort zone.

21. Order a glass of water with every drink. It’s not lame. It’s smart.

22. A bad hair day really won’t kill you.

23. Dancing on tables should be reserved for special occasions, like birthdays and Thursday nights.

24. Don’t dumb yourself down for a boy.

25. Ignorance is not bliss. Study. Work hard.

26. Life is hard. Accept this and move on.

27. Don’t sweat the small stuff, but do sweat at the gym. Your health is your everything.

28. Tell your parents you love them every chance you get.

29. Stop caring so much about what everyone else thinks.

30. Forgive. Life is too short to be angry.

31. You are destined to be more than just someone’s wife. Act like it.

32. People will hurt you. Don’t stoop to their level.

33. Read a newspaper.

34. Sometimes the only person that you can rely on is yourself.

35. It’s okay if your thighs touch and your tummy isn’t perfectly toned. You’re still beautiful.

36. Don’t let your happiness depend on another person.

37. Push yourself. You’d be amazed at what you’re capable of.

38. Smile through the tears.

39. Don’t slut shame. Girls have it hard enough – don’t turn on one another.

40. It’s okay to ask for help.

41. He’ll never change. Let him go.

42. Trust your instincts.

43. Worrying causes wrinkles and Botox is expensive. Calm down.

44. Take pictures. Lots and lots of pictures.

45. Love with everything you have.

46. Put down your phone and look around. Life is happening.

47. Stand up for yourself.

48. Confidence is everything.

49. Wash your makeup off at night. Seriously. Do it.

50. There are bad people in this world. Don’t be one of them.

51. Be honest with yourself.

52. Be honest with others.

53. You never need that last shot of vodka, but have it anyway.

54. There is a man out there who will not make you cry. Wait for him.

55. Don’t take yourself too seriously.

56. Your success will not be handed to you. Work for it.

57. Don’t waste money on expensive mascaras. Great Lash by Maybelline will always be the best.

58. Give back.

59. He does not define your self-worth. Stop letting him.

60. Life is uncertain. Tomorrow is not guaranteed; don’t take it for granted.

61. Your faith in everything you know will be tested. Push forward.

62. Be carefree, not careless.

63. It’s okay to cry.

64. You will fall, both literally and figuratively. Get back up.

65. Tequila is a bad idea, as is getting back together with an ex.

66. Fad diets never work.

67. Be gracious in all that you do.

http://totalfratmove.com/67-things-i-wish-i-had-known-at-18-3/#cbC8HthDAvsU2eyv.99

No they didn't!!!!

Does it get any worse? Oh yes it does folks...

American Horror Story: Asylum-Episode 1

So, I saw the pilot episode, and I really want to do that episode by episode blogging thing that some people have done since I feel like I can't get enough stuff into a summary post of an entire show. It's really different with movies because, as Foldable Human of Folding Ideas said, movies are self contained viewing experiences. Video games and tv shows have to be viewed/experienced over a period of time.

I need to preserve what few braincells I have left after seeing Quest for Camelot, so that one's gonna wait. I NEED TO RECOVER FROM THE F****** POS OF A MOTHERF****** MOVIE!!!WHAT WAS I THINKING? GODDAMN MOTHERF****** S*** STORM THAT IT IS I... that one's gonna wait, sorry guys. Just saying, NC's got nothing on me with this review.
So, episode one. I'm kind of surprised that AHS is an anthology series, but at the same time, I feel like it makes sense from a writing standpoint.

Well, Evan Peters and Jessica Lange are back which is great, but it's kinda giving the "seeing your ex again" vibe as they played mother and son in the previous season, and now she's a nun that rules a mental hospital with an iron fist and he's a "sane" mental patient who is a lot like Angelina Jolie in Changeling as a character. I really wish Dylan McDermott was back but he's in Hostages now, which isn't bad, but can feel like a snore fest at times...

 Um, and that chick who was the Clairvoyant in the previous season is back. And she's a lesbian. And her partner is...

ding ding ding! you win the prize for remembering stuff I did when I started this blog. It's Sophie from Carnivale, and damn this chick can play literally ANY role.

Maybe it's because I have geek cred that this kinda excites me. For knowing who the actress is, that is   because I haven't seen her in anything since Carnivale. Moving right along...

I think for me, super A-list actors will always look like themselves regardless of the roles they play

A-HEM...

Matthew  Broderick fans can all lynch me.  But my point still stands. Anytime I see Brad Pitt in a film, all I think is, yeah that's Brad Pitt. Big woop. It used to be if I saw Kelly Macdonald onscreen I would just see her character. Now I just see Kelly Macdonald, but that's because I've seen her in too many things.

And I think that's the problem with anthology TV series in general. It's hard to suspend your disbelief that much, when you already see an actor as one character. And I think I'm going to have a hard time with the next few episodes since my brain will need to accept that different characters = same actors.

But for me, the biggest problem is that a couple of years ago, I watched Murder in the First and Shutter Island in the span of a week. And this episode reminded me way too much of those movies in tone, characterization etc.

I think that's the problem with the pilot of this season. It's too much like everything else. I know that'll probably all change, like it did in the first season, but it's annoying none the less. Hopefully the rest will get better.

Prince of Egypt and everything right about it...

So, I haven't posted in a while. Sorry, I am a bad blogger. I have been super busy and am still digesting American Horror Story: Asylum's pilot. I just haven't had much time for anything, including sleep so I haven't been watching much more than Storage Wars lately...

My high school band class has been doing the soundtrack of the Lion King and while I could delve into that flick, it's about animals, and I like talking about costuming. Plus, as any Disney ren-, no just Disney animated films have S*****, S*****, HORRIBLE, F****** "costuming", I thought I would devote a post to that soon. Just not now. Because I haven't seen a lot of those flicks in a while. I'm only seventeen as of two days ago, so I can't drink my way into a stupor while watching Hercules, at least not legally yet.

So, I thought I would look at a film that is near and dear to my heart, The Prince of Egypt. And while, I'm not really a fan of DreamWorks animation, this one was done during the Disney Renaissance, and because those are my childhood, it gets a pass in my book.



So, the story revolves around the Passover story, aka the exodus from Egypt, Ten Commandments etc. but, it takes a much more personal, psychological look at the whole thing.

And get ready for this,

ITS A MUSICAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's right folks, there is singing and dancing in this flick, and it is awesome. Really.

So, as the story goes, Moses and the Pharoh Ramses are foster brothers (they don't know this until Moses figures out who he really is, like you do)

And I must say, I love the art style of this movie. It takes a lot of really basic cartooning concepts like characters with round faces are more "friendly" to the viewer and characters with angular faces come off as antagonistic i.e.

                                              

Moses on the left still identifies as Egyptian and is drawn with a distinctly Egyptian aesthetic. His long lost sister Miriam on the right is a "Hebrew" with a much more natural drawing style. It just really works, and to the film's credit, the integration of CGI looks natural. Something like Atlantis, which is a film that I also really love, does the CGI in a way that feels forced. Ironic since these flicks came out only 2 years apart.

I gotta say, I adore the musical numbers because they don't feel out of place. The opening scene starts with "Deliver Us" as a group number to establish the political and social climate of Egypt. The lullaby that Moses' mother sings to him before sending him down river is very realistic, and the animation reflects it well. 

For those who watch Nostalgia Critic reviews, I would like to bring attention to the movie Rover Dangerfield.

 In comparison, the songs in that flick are ENTIRELY POINTLESS! Having a dog sing about not p****** on christmas trees doesn't help the story in any way shape or form. Singing a lullaby to your child who you may never see again, but will one day become brother to the pharaoh Ramses, has a POINT!!!!

Prince of Egypt delves into previously unmentioned or unexplored areas of the story and gives moses a lot more growth in terms of his character. He simply isn't just MOSES, he is someone who learns to grow into a role he otherwise never would have dreamed of having.

My main criticism is that the film clocks in at an hour and a half, and like Atlantis, I shall quote the Nostalgia Chick,

"If you want to make an epic, make an epic".

To me, Prince of Egypt is a bit short, and they cut down Moses' time in the desert as well as the 10 plagues to only a few minutes each. I feel like a bit more time could have been spent, but oh well, what can you do.

Word of advice: don't show this to your six year old. Any stupid parent who looks at this movie in the  (gasp) five dollar bin and thinks it is a good idea for your children to watch it is wrong. It is so nuanced and mature in it's subject matter that it really is not meant for anyone younger than 10 or 11. Granted, my parents let me see Rome when I was 12 years old, so I'm a little biased.

I will confess that I did have a phase where I thought I'd get back into 90's animated films, and lets just say that this, Atlantis, The Lion King Movies, and Cinderella 3 were the only things worth bringing within 100 feet of me. I'm not saying they're all good, but they're not all bad either.  I still hold in pretty high regard the stuff that Disney himself was involved in, so go figure.

Next time: Quest For Camelot (Why the F*** am I even wasting brain cells on this piece of S***)