Vintage Outfit Post and Spotlight on Modern Vintage Purveyors-Freddie's of Pinewood

Since starting this blog last year and embracing my life long passion for vintage style I have dressed in 1920s through 1950s inspired clothing nearly every day.  However I rarely wear genuine vintage from head to toe.  The "vintage" I wear most days is reproduction.  Even though I treasure the few genuine vintage garments I own, in general I prefer reproductions.  Reproductions offer all the benefits of vintage clothing and none of the draw backs.  Reproductions are durable and sturdy and many offer the easy care convenience of modern clothes.  With reproductions I can play with my dogs, ride my bike, and interact with the students at my job, without worrying that a bouncy dog or affectionate child will rip a delicate dress.  In fact I almost never wear my genuine vintage dresses to work because I have a recurring night mare I'll be teaching and an 80 year old garment will begin to unravel. 

Some vintage aficionados feel very strongly that they want one of a kind items.  That's not so important to  me, but if you choose custom made reproductions from purveyors like Time Machine Vintage you can even be guaranteed of a one of a kind garment.   I've also heard people say that reproductions don't offer the real look and quality of originals.  While I'm by no means an expert, or even really very knowledgeable, when it comes to vintage clothing I know that many of the companies offering reproductions use original patterns and even period authentic dead stock fabrics.  For example, the company I'm writing about today, Freddie's of Pinewood, accurately copies jeans and casual wear from the 1940s and 50s offering a product that looks just like, but wears harder then, the original.

I rarely wear pants, partly because I am so short they always require hemming and partly because I love dresses so much, but everyone needs jeans and when I realized I needed a new pair I knew I wanted some Freddie's.  I had read about their products on several vintage blogs, such as Chronically Vintage,  and I new they had the best.  I spent a long time deciding what jeans to order since my original choices the 1940s side button jeans and the 1950s Rivet Jeans wear sold out in my size.  I found the Freddie's website very helpful in regards to sizing and full of beautiful choices. I finally settled on their 1950s Indigo Button Jeans  and I couldn't be happier with my choice.  As the website description says "these are proper jeans" completely 1950s accurate and very well made.  I can't believe how much more comfortable and sturdy these are then modern jeans I have tried.   I also love that these jeans have a nice high waist, preventing the dreaded sliding down of modern jeans.  Whenever I wear them I feel like a 1950s teenager ready to go to a sock hop, or even better  the Hi Teen carnival, even If am a 36 year old woman.

In the interest of giving credit where its due, hear are the details for the rest of my outfit: 

1940s Reprouduction Sweater from Vintage and Cool Knitting
1950s Indigo Side Button Jeans from Freddie's of Pinewood
Chili Pepper Hair Clip from Luxulite
1950s Poodle Purse from Etsy Shop Rabbit Heart Designs

We Got Left Behind!

Anyone who reads our blog knows we are the biggest canine Star Trek fans out there.  We have the toys:

The t-shirts and insignias:

The sweaters:

The dog tags:

The fan mosaic:

this is a poster made up of photos of Star Trek fans.  If you follow this link you can see Weasley's picture and on this link you can see Bob's.
 
We even have tribbles:

So when we heard mom and dad were going to a Star Trek convention, their first ever, in Cherry Hill NJ we were busy getting our uniforms ready.     Then mom explained to us that the hotel hosting the convention did not allow dogs!!  Friends, we got left along all day Sunday while mom and dad went to the convention.

Mom didn't even have a proper uniform, she wore this Trashy Diva rocket dress.

At the convention mom and dad saw lots of stuff for sale:

 

 

They even saw a real tribble, well a real prop from the show.



They also saw lots of Klingons.

Since we were not with them and since it was a long drive mom and dad stayed only a few hours, or so they say.  On the way home they stopped at the Franklin Fountain in Philadelphia for ice cream.  This place is a vintage ice cream and candy shop that's like a trip back in time.

When they got home we were waiting for mom and dad:

Mom showed us what she bought.  A Trouble with Tribbles ornament:

and a t-shirt:

We were hoping for treats!

Star Trek Style-Spotlight on The Conscience of the King

My all time favorite show has, in addition, to its wonderful plots, clever characters, hopeful message and humanist philosophy, some really fascinating, and wacky, style. 

 

Futuristic bikinis?  In silver foil on TOS and then more practical white on TNG.  Also proof Star Trek is equal opportunity when it comes to objectifying guest stars.

The costumes from Star Trek, particularly TOS, (that's the original series to non trekkies), show case some seriously trippy 60s fashion. 


Gold and see through are common TOS themes Image Source



No costume had one piece where two would do, also bizarre hats and tunics are a popular choice for the men of many planets Image Source

Watch even one episode and it becomes pretty clear that the wardrobe department staff were partaking of some of the eras more popular hallucinogens.  While its highly unlikely anything will ever top the marabou rabbit costumes complete with decorative belly button lint detail from Shore Leave:

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I recently noticed some seriously awesome get ups in one of my favorite episodes The Conscience of the King.  This had to be at least my fifth viewing of this episode but somehow I never quite realized before how absolutely wild the costumes on the  leading lady are, and unusual for Star Trek there are quite a few costume changes. 

In the episode Kirk is contacted by a child hood friend who is sure he has found Kodos the Executioner, a monstrous bad guy who put to death thousands of people,  supposedly to prevent the starvation of the more deserving residents of Earth Colony Tarsus IV.  Kirk and his friend were two of a very small group of survivors who saw what Kodos looks like.  Twenty years later the suspected Kodos is masquerading as a Shakespearean actor.  Kirk is unsure if he has found the real Kodos and so he sets out to investigate.  Naturally, because he is Kirk a big part of the investigation involves seducing Kodos's daughter Lenore, who gets to sport some really amazing clothes.

When Kirk first meets Lenore at a cocktail party she is wearing an outfit that is downright conservative by Star Trek standards, a one sleeved blue baby doll number with apliqued flowers and spangly ice skater tights. 

 

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Plus her hair, when compared to other characters like Yeoman Rand,

 is quite simple.  However, when Kirk and Lenore decide to take a romantic walk on the planet surface the costume department out does themselves.  In order to ward of any chills, Lenore accessorizes with a black tulle cape that cascades from her hair.

Later when Lenore beams aboard the enterprise she sports another unforgettable get up.  A faux fur mini dress with a giant tiger eye brooch and those same  ice skater tights, clearly her signature accessory.  Oh and gloves too because this outfit really needs gloves:

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From this image I am getting the impression that Yeoman Rand isn't so sure this look works 

Sadly the outfits after the fur mini are a bit of a downer.  For a date with Kirk, Lenore wears a simple Pucci inspired caftan:



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If it weren't for the green feathers on the sleeves this get up would hardly qualify as Star Trek apparel.  However, while the outfit in this scene might disappoint, the dialogue does not. 

Lenore to Kirk:

"And this ship. All this power. Surging and throbbing, yet under control. Are you like that, Captain?"


Kirk to Lenore:

"Worlds may change, galaxies disintegrate, but a woman always remains a woman."

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For the rest of the episode Lenore, who shocker is revealed to be a giant baddie, has unremarkable clothes.  She spends most of it in her Shakespearan Macbeth costume, a not so subtle allusion to her state of mind:

 

 

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Now for the flimsy reason behind this post: This weekend I'll be spending a few hours on Sunday attending my first ever Star Trek convention in Cherry Hill, NJ.  I've never wanted to travel to attend a convention, as much as I love Star Trek I didn't think they would be my thing, but this one is pretty close to where I live and I figure as a fan I have to see at least one convention.  Sadly my little Trekkers, who do have costumes, won't be attending as dogs are not allowed.