Reproductions

I hoard blue shoes and handbags. They're hard to come by, and I wear more blue than black.

I have nothing against reproductions, particularly with shoes, as good condition vintage is hard to find (and expensive to maintain-just ask our cobbler). When I saw these sitting on a rack at Goodwill, they were covered at least half an inch thick in dust. Examining the shoes, I noticed they were unworn. I handed over my $3.99 and gave them a good cleaning with a damp rag when I got home.

I have a difficult time understanding people who keep unworn shoes. Obviously these were sitting around long enough to get dusty. Buying something for some unspecified date in the future has never been my style. If I buy it, I wear it. My shoes rarely gather dust, even the formal ones.

Oh dear, the tights have ladders, and I varnished more skin than toenails. Oops.

As far as I can tell, these were donated because, like many cheap shoes that are mass produced, the holes to fasten the straps hadn't been punched all the way through. Ten seconds with a needle solved that issue. Are people really so lazy that they can't punch a hole in a shoe strap? I've seen clothing donated that only needed a hem tacked back in place. Madness, but great for me.

So how are these shoes? They're comfortable. I don't imagine they sold for much new as they came from Old Navy. Unlike a vintage pair I don't need to be overly cautious with them as they aren't likely to come unglued, or lose a heel. Still, a vintage pair will be better made with respect to the uppers, and I fully expect the vinyl to begin cracking and peeling at some point. Good reproductions can cost as much as original vintage (I adore Remix shoes, but can't bear to part with the money to buy them new), but it is worth considering if you're looking for something wearable that will last. I like these shoes a great deal, but I know they won't look like this next summer-if they make it that far.

 The bracelets are a mix of vintage bakelite (the green one) and reproduction bamboo bangles. A purist might balk, but I'm pleased with the overall effect.

 The glass ring isn't original 60's vintage but rather a reproduction I bought at a craft store for .50 cents.

I'll just stand here in the funny mix of shade and sun for a photo. 

The bag and skirt are original vintage-the tee shirt is contemporary retail. A 50's bag, a 70's skirt, a 60's necklace-I mix eras most days, as I mix vintage and reproduction pieces. I do admire some of the reproduction clothing I see online. Still, it is quite expensive, and I wouldn't want to see the same dress making the rounds across the blogs. That said, I recently ordered two novelty skirts that could easily pass for vintage with the right accessories. They weren't being sold as repro, though it wouldn't take much imagination to see them as such. I'm loathe to purchase clothing new, but these were such a bargain (with free shipping and returns) that I felt it was worth it. We'll see if I feel the same when they arrive. 

I was out and about today when someone stopped me to ask if I sell vintage, or if I just enjoy wearing it. I was surprised, as I wasn't really dressed in anything I'd consider, "Vintage" unless that now extends to 90's twin sets and a home-sewn silk skirt. I wonder if, "Looking vintage" is less to do with authentic pieces than how what you have is styled. A mid-calf skirt and twin set can reflect an era, and the bangles on my arms might have completed the impression. I didn't get any photos today (sorry) but believe me, it isn't the sort of pinup girl fashion we typically see offered as "Vintage". From what I can tell looking at family photos, suburban housewives didn't wear pencil skirts and Bardot tops. Well, not the women in my family anyway. I still like pinup fashions, but there's always more than one way to do an era though I don't think, "Non-descript office worker" has the same effect on sales as, "Pinup." 

I also squint in the sun, but that's not fashion-that's reflex. 

Outfit Particulars:
1970's wrap skirt-Goodwill, a couple decades ago
Tee Shirt-K Mart
Old Navy shoes-Goodwill
Handbag-Mum's
Bangles-all over
Silk cardigan-bought new, early 90's
Turtle brooch-Thrift World
Necklace-Goodwill
70's Earrings-Hand-Me-Ups
Ring-Hobby Lobby
Fragrance-Guerlain Guet Apens


The rain started again in earnest as we were about to leave the department store where we'd spent an hour sampling fragrances (so we could go to TJMax and buy them for 1/2 price). A sweet employee packaged up Danny's fragrance cards in a bag so they wouldn't get wet walking to the parking lot.
"Thank you." he told her, before asking, "Can we get a bag for my mother's purse so the rhinestones don't come unglued?" He was right. and it was a good thing he asked because I don't think my Collins bag would have made it. I was tempted to go back in and have him ask for bags for my shoes, but thought that might be too much. The elements are the enemy of true vintage, something to keep in mind when trying to justify the cost of repro.

Do you do repro from shops, or just when you happen upon it second hand? What about era mixing? Yea, nay, or "Whatever?"