Friday, May 13, 2011

When is a Vintage Dress Not a Vintage Dress?


This is a question that came to mind the other day. 

A couple of days ago, I was running errands wearing the Jerry Parnis Dress.  While out and about, I was stopped and asked about the wonderful vintage dress I was wearing!

What a nice compliment.  I answered that it really is not a vintage dress but it was made with a vintage pattern.

But I have wondered if my response was wrong.  Are the outfits we make from vintage patterns vintage outfits??  If you use vintage fabric in addition to the vintage pattern, does that then make the outfit vintage even if you made it in 2011?  Or does the fact that the outfit was made in 2011, never mind the age of the pattern, mean it is a modern outfit or a modern interpretation of vintage wear?

I have no answers to these questions.  I can see the argument for each.  I tend to think that if I made the dress now, in the modern age, it cannot be vintage.  However, I do not like the term vintage inspired because that is not wholly accurate either.

Perhaps next time, I should merely say thanks and that I found a new vintage store without further explanations.  Any thoughts? 

2 comments:

Amy said...

That's a good question! I make my dresses with all vintage patterns too, and I always use vintage notions and sometimes vintage fabric (the fabric is usually thrifted so I'm unsure of the date). I would say you could call it a vintage dress!

Rita said...

I would call it a vintage dress as well! I do not use vintage fabric but do sometimes use vintage notions. I am just too cheap to use vintage fabric! I hate to pay more than $2 a yard for fabric. Did I mention I was cheap?