Revival clothes help needed.

[Ozmira]

I'm off to the revival with the gf and have decided to go in 40s style clothing. i know i may be a bit late in posting this up but we are in need of some help as to where is the best places to find clothing. do we go the ebay way, vintage fairs, vintage clothing websites or do we just try and find new clothing that is similar to something that would have been worn in the 40s.

any help would be great.

[hurstg01]

I thought of the same thing a while ago - http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...

I'm still struggling though; I've entered the unknown and previously [by me] untapped resources of the Charity Shops of Windsor but came out empty handed.

I hope to get something soon though, even if I have to hire something

[Trophybloo]

40s is difficult for men if looking for civvies. Think double breasted suit with bag-cut trousers, fedora or homburg, white shirt and military / school tie. Far easier to do 50s or 60s. Women have no trouble finding modern 40s retro

[HiHoSilverSLK]

"I'm off to the revival with the gf and have decided to go in 40s style clothing. i know i may be a bit late in posting this up but we are in need of some help as to where is the best places to find clothing. do we go the ebay way, vintage fairs, vintage clothing websites or do we just try and find new clothing that is similar to something that would have been worn in the 40s."

I'm in same quandary as you. Charity shops sell rubbish clothing from ten or maybe twenty years ago, you'd have to be amazingly lucky to find an outfit that fitted you from the 40's.

Hire is possible but very pricey.

There are numerous sites that sell vintage clothing, but it ain't easy to find appropriate stuff.

I'm going for a period Harris Tweed sports jacket outfit, at least if I buy a suitable jacket I might get some more use out of it. SWMBO is going in a Grease / Sandra Dee inspired leather jacket & tight jeans outfit, at least I don't have to match her, if I went as the John Travolta character I'd look a right .

[HiHoSilverSLK]

I do beg your pardon. The last word on the previous post should have read "Ladies willie"

[Edmundo2]

In my experience it's worth trying your local theatre as many have costume hire/wardrobes which are generally full of old suits, military outfits etc..Good luck.

[john2443]

For men it really isn't very difficult; it is difficult if you want to be absolutely correct to period, but the aim is to give the general impression and not pass muster as an extra in a BBC period drama!

The main thing is to avoid trainers or T/football shirts with modern logos - jeans were around in the 50s, 60s (probably drainpipes?) so these with a plain T shirt are OK, maybe leather jacket, or jacket & trousers or suit, shirt, tie/cravat, maybe trilby (ebay for a few quid) or flat cap.

I'm not convinced about all the uniforms, racing didn't start til '48 by which time I don't imagine there were that many people who'd wear their uniforms when off duty. Does anyone admit to remembering that far back ¬)

You can spend a fortune on authentic kit, but no-ones going to be looking closely, so it's the general effect that matters not the accuracy.

[Trophybloo]

john2443 said:

The main thing is to avoid trainers or T/football shirts with modern logos - jeans were around in the 50s, 60s (probably drainpipes?) so these with a plain T shirt are OK, maybe leather jacket, or jacket & trousers or suit, shirt, tie/cravat, maybe trilby (ebay for a few quid) or flat cap.

I'm not convinced about all the uniforms, racing didn't start til '48 by which time I don't imagine there were that many people who'd wear their uniforms when off duty. Does anyone admit to remembering that far back ¬)

Trouble is the OP wanted 40s - the most difficult of the 3 decades covered to get right in civvies.
The contemporary photos of the 50s show a sprinkling of uniforms at Goodwood but nothing like the brigades seen at Revival - just very easy to find / hire etc. What you do see in the pics is that most people had headgear and a collar and tie.
The jet set of the 50s would have worn polo shirts with tweeds and cavalry twill trousers and the ubiquitous desert boot / hush puppy

[leyorkie]

Do you have a local amateur dramatic theatre nearby? One near to me has a large wardrobe of period clothes. They are invariably strapped for cash so a nice donation works wonders.

[Ozmira]

thanks for the help, we (the gf and I) wanted to avoid military style outfits and workmans overalls. a 3 piece suit and a trilby was what i was thinking for myself and something for the gf matching if possible. shoes are a bugger as well, suit colour i guess will depend on what colour shoes, but do i go just black, brown or black and white or brown and white.

[paul71a]

The Gentleman counry look would suggest a non-city suit (tweed etc) and brown loafers

[bridgdav]

http://www.funnfrolic.co.uk/party-store/

Not just a party store... They have an extensive theater clothes section, I have used this place a couple of times for the revival.....

In Reading.

[RichB]

Ozmira said:

thanks for the help, we (the gf and I) wanted to avoid military style outfits and workmans overalls. a 3 piece suit and a trilby was what i was thinking for myself and something for the gf matching if possible. shoes are a bugger as well, suit colour i guess will depend on what colour shoes, but do i go just black, brown or black and white or brown and white.

Re the shoes, I'm not anyone other than Al Capone actually wore black and white shoes, certainly not in the UK! Someone will now dig out a picture and prove me wring but I can remember my dad and uncles wardrobes from the early 50s and they just wore ordinary black or brown oxfords or brogues. I do remember dad having a pari of brown leather sandles which he wore throughout the summer with slacks (chinos) but I know I'd feel daft in what are eseentially school sandles!

[alfaspecial]

As a couple of posters have suggested a costume hire centre should be able to help. But get in early - the September is likely to be a peak period.

eg http://www.baththeatrical.com/page3.htm


they are based in Frome, Somerset but there is bound to be one near you (Surrey)

[hurstg01]

I've struck out so far, time is ticking on and still ntohing....... Seems everyone is holding on to their tweed and not donating it to the charity shops of Windsor, Camberley, Farnborough, Guildford......

[RichB]

hurstg01 said:

I've struck out so far, time is ticking on and still ntohing....... Seems everyone is holding on to their tweed and not donating it to the charity shops of Windsor, Camberley, Farnborough, Guildford......

Have you looked on eBay? There's currently 2,134 Tweed Jackets (mens) and 671 Vintage Tweed Jackets

[C2james]

I'm just wearing chinos, shirt, navy jacket and a tie.

[RichB]

C2james said:

I'm just wearing chinos, shirt, navy jacket and a tie.

Good for you, sounds right, it's not a fancy dress after all!

[hurstg01]

RichB said:

hurstg01 said:

I've struck out so far, time is ticking on and still ntohing....... Seems everyone is holding on to their tweed and not donating it to the charity shops of Windsor, Camberley, Farnborough, Guildford......

Have you looked on eBay? There's currently 2,134 Tweed Jackets (mens) and 671 Vintage Tweed Jackets

Took the safe option and ordered a RAF WW2 uniform off eBay

[Rustiebin]

john2443 said:

I'm not convinced about all the uniforms, racing didn't start til '48 by which time I don't imagine there were that many people who'd wear their uniforms when off duty. Does anyone admit to remembering that far back ¬)

You can spend a fortune on authentic kit, but no-ones going to be looking closely, so it's the general effect that matters not the accuracy.

Is the revival about celebrating not only the racing at Goodwood but also its time as a frontline RAF base? I always thought that was the reason for so many folks dressed in 40's military uniforms and why the period aircraft display was such a big part of it. If not, then i agree, its a bit daft all dressed in uniforms when the racing was at its height in the 50's & 60's.

Anyway, a pair of chinos, brown shoes, shirt, cravat, sports jacket and flat cap are what i wear. Not very authentic but the thought is there and its all pretty easy to get hold of.