My boyfriend, our friends, and I are asked on a daily (hourly) basis: “do you really dress like this all the time?” and people want to know how and all that. And the real trick to being a true, full-time vintage wearer/celebrator is that it’s about function and NOT just fashion as people might assume. For example, guys like my boyfriend have buttons sewn into all their trousers for suspenders. These are functional items in their wardrobe. They keep their pants up. On the other hand, this hipster-contemporary “fashion oriented” resurgence of suspenders is only in the form of clip on suspenders which aren’t so much functional rather than for the purposes of some obscure image. Same goes for stockings, bow ties, hats, sleeve garters- one thing I can say for the vintage wearing community is that we all share a respect for a more functional view of our wardrobes, while still loving clothing and style. Contemporary “fashion” people (for me fashion is the antithesis of style) tend to have no interest or knowledge about the functionality of their clothing, only the image they convey. It’s ironic that this is truth, which it is, seeing as completely committed vintage wearers are commonly considered insanely vain and image-obsessed. My boyfriend and his band played at the Easter parade on 5th ave. This year and I was (now famously) asked by an associated press photographer who was displeased by our group’s irritation at her camera in my face for too long: “but, isn’t this why you dress like this and come to things like this? To be photographed?”…….NO! I dress like “this” when I go to lunch. Like anyone in history there are degrees of fanciness, but I dress vintage or with an antique aesthetic all the time. Not because I’m going to a costume party or trying to look different. There are details of commitment to my wardrobe and many others’ whom I know that you will never ever see that are functional for me and still vintage. This line of questioning for me usually ends with one answer which serves as both a way to end any further questioning, and as the truth: “we dress this way because we wear what we like and what we find beautiful.” it is not for you or you or anyone. It is not a statement of any kind except one for self respect. It is sad that more people don’t really consider what they think is beautiful and what they really want to cover themselves in, and instead just buy what stores tell them to, or what they are expected to wear.