I can second Tabbyanabel and Melanie! A few times I have tried to do the "complete" look for special occasions, but it's actually more fun to mix & match with modern pieces that may look modern or retro. In the end, the overall look is what counts. I find that the more vintage I got, the more I was getting away from trying to do the "total" look (which can look "dressed up" too easily) to mixing things around. That means also using pieces from suits or ensembles separately. I have this lovely 40s Eisenberg cotton suit with a light, unlined jacket with 3/4 sleeves - perfect for summer. That jacket just works wonderfully as a top with modern black capris and Indian-inspired embroidered slippers in matching green. Or a jacket from a late 40s/early 50s suit, in the palest lavender shade, very fitted, heavy wool - looks gorgeous with deep dark blue jeans & boots in winter (vintage jackets are anyway one of the easiest ways to wear vintage!). A late 40s black crepe dress that's on the shorter side - I've worn it a few times in winter for going out with dark green or purple argyle-pattern tights and knee-high boots. May sound a little crazy, but works beautifully. Or a 70s poly evening dress, beautiful shade of dark red, pleated, goddess-style, no embellishments. Dress it up with a few vintage costume jewelery pieces and add some modern evening shoes, and the whole thing looks like a million bucks, though the whole getup cost me under $100 total. That is a fun aspect too for me. Dressing up for say going to the opera, knowing I make a few heads turn and that it looks "expensive" - in an outfit that cost very little over all and certainly a lot less than a pair of the Louboutins that I usually see on a few ladies there. I do sew from vintage patterns as well occasionally, but only with modern fabrics. In fact I have just someting in the works now, that I hope I'll be able to show soon. A dress from a mid-60s pattern, made from modern Marimekko fabric with their iconic Unikko print (which dates back to the mid-60s too of course), but in a modern colorway. I didn't choose a vintage pattern because I thought of achieving the total 60s look, but my mom has loads of vintage sewing magazines, and I thought this would be the best place to look for a simple dress shape that would show this big print off nicely. My next project is a blouse (or two) from late 40s sewing patterns.
I love experimenting around and wearing something individual. Since I have a new position at work, I need a bit more "business wear" occasionally, and my intention there is to wear vintage instead of going for what's normally considered business wear, and which mostly looks drab (and ill-fitting - I've seen some very bad examples lately...)! I've had a few occasions now to try this out and I think it has worked quite well. 40s and 50s suits, jackets and dresses are my go-tos for that at the moment. This is also the reason for trying to make those blouses, as you can't always wear skirts, and now I have found the modern pants that actually fit me and that aren't jeans - which is short of a miracle. And I think a blouse like that would be perfect with them. The other option of course would be a 40s woolen pant suit - for which I have a pattern in my stash already as well. But that will take time to make.
Karin
