Comments on Diary of a Vintage Girl | Vintage Fashion & Lifestyle: Vintage - the Good(wood) & the Bad

Thanks for your comments Claire, but we'll jus...

2010-08-29T20:10:13.019+01:00

Thanks for your comments Claire, but we'll just have to agree to disagree. There is no such one thing as the 'vintage scene' to earn a 'bad name', as this festival, this post, and these comments prove. People will continue to get dressed up in fancy dress and have a laugh at 40s themed events, I absolutely guarantee those folks won't be the slightest bit put off by comments by people such as myself or the previous commenter. Which is great. Having a laugh is good. As is passion. Wouldn't this world be boring if we all agreed with everything.

And with that, comments are now closed as I think the subject is exhausted and I am not prepared to let any new fires be lit. All comments will remain for posterity. That's all folks.

sorry but i feel the need to comment again, whilst...

2010-08-29T19:59:38.153+01:00

sorry but i feel the need to comment again, whilst i love the whole vintage scene, as i said in my previous comment, i don't 'live it' when we go to shows we display vehicles do a bit of dancing (although most of the time i just love watching the dancers..could do that all day) it really annoys me when poeple like the commenter above me give people a hard time for 'wearing Topshop Dresses with their hair in Victory rolls!) it's comments like this that give the vintage scene a bad name and makes newcomers unsure as to whether they will be welcomed in the 'clique'. It's all about having a good time and trying to join in..not whether you can afford a complete vintage outfit. The shows that i go to attract a huge wide range of people from all walks of life, some 'live it' and some'treat it as a bit of fun & fancy dress' but at least we are all having a good tim and not stabbing each other in the back. Goodness you make it sound like high school.

Me and my boyfriend went to a gig in London in May...

2010-08-27T12:12:32.264+01:00

Me and my boyfriend went to a gig in London in May and picked up some flyers for it. I had vaguely heard of it via Facebook but wasn't exactly sure what it was. Anyway we thought it looked quite good. Wanda Jackson was down to play for a star which I believe is worth the admission alone. Anyway so we thought we might go but then we decided to go to High Rockabilly in Spain so we left VAG. And from the looks if it we made the right decision. I hate all this trying to mix subcultures and styles. It doesn't work. It looked really commercial and glossy to me.

I prefer to go to things like The Rockabilly Rave and The Hotrod Hayride. These things are far better organised and everyone there lives the lifestyle 24/7. I've seen pictures of girls at VAG wearing Topshop dresses with their hair in victory rolls. It really annoys me when there are people like Fleur who dedicate their whole life to it and then you get people who just see it as a bit of fun or fancy dress.

you are so cute! I love these. And how beautiful ...

2010-08-26T20:54:28.116+01:00

you are so cute! I love these.

And how beautiful is that green silk dress! wow.

I'm sure there will be whispers of PR machinat...

2010-08-26T12:47:34.139+01:00

I'm sure there will be whispers of PR machinations and criticism-neutralising efforts by Freud & co. but there is currently a snap of Fleur on the home page of the VAG website:

http://www.vintageatgoodwood.com/home.aspx

Personally, I suspect it is because it's a rather nice photo.

Mr. Wax

After reading this blog and all the comments, I fe...

2010-08-25T23:04:22.444+01:00

After reading this blog and all the comments, I feel I should have my say.

I own a vintage clothing company which I work super hard at and am very very proud of. I jumped at the chance to take a stall at VAG - despite the fact that it's 300 miles away and was very expensive. I wanted to be there, to meet all the people, to show off my lovely stuff, to contact collectors and enthusiasts and just to be part of the "British cool" festival.

But I was shocked at the amount of utter tat that was in the marketplace. Reems of crap skanky polyester frocks and tasteless trash. Our stall was tiny but crammed with Horrockses, Ossie Clark, YSL, Biba, Chloe, Pucci and Chanel as well as gorgeous pieces from 1920s-1980s. But we didn't get enough people looking closely because the true vintage lovers were fed up by the time they reached our cramped tent.

Don't get me wrong, we met some lovely people and had a bit of fun but we worked our asses off from 10-10 each day and were let down badly.

Not good Mr H & Co.

Oh I wish i could've gone home to see my cats!...

2010-08-25T22:43:47.622+01:00

Oh I wish i could've gone home to see my cats!
As a stall holder's assistant we found it was not as planned. "63 hot showers for the stall holders" No. 63 freezing cold to boiling hot, sometimes dribbling, sometimes not working at all showers. For everyone.
Liley Allens new shop? (not that I care) Not there. Waitrose (so vintage?! ) glad it wasn't there. PRIMARK?! I normally view style magazine as my bible, but this has made me reconsider.
I'm glad I didn't pay. If it wasn't for the fact I was with two tremendous friends on a free ticket, I'm sure I would give a more sour taste of events. It is ghastly that when the entry ticket is so high the curators think it a good idea for everyone entertaining to be a volunteer. How miserable.
I admire you for speaking so eloquently
xo

it is worth mentioning that primark stuff will nev...

2010-08-25T21:31:09.790+01:00

it is worth mentioning that primark stuff will never be vintage, as it mostly falls apart after one wash.

Don't worry about the bad language Fleur, my G...

2010-08-25T19:30:19.003+01:00

Don't worry about the bad language Fleur, my Grandfather used to say that one could always tell a real lady by how bad her language could be when required!
Spiteful, pathetic and ignorant idiots should always be ignored. Deep breath and think calm.

It's fairly true to say that any comment left ...

2010-08-25T16:56:10.841+01:00

It's fairly true to say that any comment left anonymously is automatically not worth reading. If you can't stand up and put your name to what you're saying, it's just random pixels on a screen. Spiteful, catty and yes, I would say even JEALOUS remarks make the author look pathetic - which is perhaps why they feel they need for a veil of anonymity.

I mean, by all means, say you disagree and that *you* had a fab time, but don't freak out and say WHY YOU ACCUSE ME OF LYING???? when you were accusing Fleur of lying (it's ok for you to say someone's lying, right? But not for Fleur to defend herself, because that's then an accusation of lying?). Or make snide remarks that Fleur was just flitting about doing nothing of work. Did you not read the blog up there? Did it not occur to you that all that was hard, knackering work?

I have studied forensic linguistics and I can tell which comments were left by the same person, and I can also tell that this isn't the first time they've left vomitous bile-ridden personal attacks on blog, anonymously. You, Ms Anon, are pathetic. I hope these mutual friends which you share with Fleur will find out what a ras clart they're hanging out with. I really hope you don't have a blog because wouldn't it be a shame for people to come and leave nasty anon comments on it? Oh - that's the trouble - nobody reads it.

Dear Crazy people with no manners, You come acro...

2010-08-25T15:08:54.412+01:00

Dear Crazy people with no manners,

You come across as blog stalking nasty articles, a tad Witch finder General to anyone sane.

But of course, when you are in hiding to can say what you like can't you. Loathsome types in hiding preaching away there, insulting one girl for her experiences, how very charming.
It's stalking!!

I do hope when Fleur eventually gets where she is going she'll attract a better class of nutter/ stalker!

Didn't realise knitting fee went to Oxfam, tha...

2010-08-25T14:43:26.476+01:00

Didn't realise knitting fee went to Oxfam, that is nice. If I had been there all weekend perhaps would have investigated properly!

snigger rah rah rah blah blah blah anonymous ano...

2010-08-25T14:42:07.638+01:00

*snigger* rah rah rah blah blah blah anonymous anonymous welcome to check my IP don't scare me (so why not leave your name & email?) blah blah huff puff rant rave.

Shut up.

This is a *blog*. I went to Glastonbury in 1998, and I hated it, that doesn't make anyone elses opinion of the event any less valid. Get over yourselves.

I still like your blog Fleur, it's nice to have someone writing truthfully about things, instead of trying to impress 'them' all the time xxx

Un freaking believable! I want to kick all ANON re...

2010-08-25T14:29:59.518+01:00

Un freaking believable! I want to kick all ANON readers in the shins... bloggers can blog what they want for it is there blog - Fleur's blog is great and I have been reading for a long ole time, I respect her opinion. I am shocked and appalled at some of the negative comments on this blog, it has turned into a slanging match. It is always going to be your words against hers...but why do your words have to be so hurtfull? You are now bullying Fleur... We are grown up's for christs sake. What do you want Fleur to do? Change her post and say she had a great time in an afro wig rollerskating at a disco? Idiots!
What I do not understand is why Anon who said she was unsubscribing keeps coming back? Still reading aye? Lastly this blog is one of very, very many that give VAG a less than glowing review...least Fleur was there all weekend!!!! I was there for less than 6 hours and blogged my dislike for the festival.

Fleur - please do not let this dampen your blogging spirits - I look forward to your posts every week! xxxx

NB xxx

I can't believe how vindictive this has gotten...

2010-08-25T13:07:32.429+01:00

I can't believe how vindictive this has gotten. Sending a lady 'anonymous' emails to harrass her? Really?!

On a lighter note, I am deeply impressed that Mr Wax managed to fashion a giant Bounder tube.

Mr Wax, you're a diamond as ever. People seem ...

2010-08-25T12:55:55.453+01:00

Mr Wax, you're a diamond as ever. People seem to think I'm getting some twisted joy out of having not enjoyed myself! I'm not that 'known' in the scheme of things but I was having to be the public 'me' all weekend, and good thing too as girls were coming up to me periodically. Like you say, people don't get just how exhausting it is to be 'on' for the whole weekend, even when, rather especially when, 'performing' at the Olympiad.

I do actually wish I had caught one of Ruby's knitting workshops - those are the sorts of thing I would have done and enjoyed had my Chap and model duties not taken up the whole day. I am positive these parts were the sincere things I felt were missing. But I didn't see them and thus can't comment.

I apologise for letting my ladylike veneer slip and getting all sweary up there. I have a limit and it was reached upon being accused of laziness and lack of true passion.

I hope everyone reading this realises that my anger is not directed at people coming here and opposing my views, it's at the cowardly mud-slinging. If I didn't want differing views, I'd have deleted them, but I haven't - I've only deleted a duplicate comment I made myself.

I have read other negative blogs and the amount of hateful and abusive comments amazes me. I bet on any blogs where the writer had an amazing time, they didn't experience others coming along and going, 'no, it was rubbish, you moron, I can't believe you had a good time.'

As it happens, despite the rain, the shocking lack...

2010-08-25T12:45:02.710+01:00

As it happens, despite the rain, the shocking lack of co-ordination by the organisers, the freezing showers and lack of anywhere with hot water and mirrors for shaving; despite the afro wigs and the stratospheric food prices (note to organisers: don't screw over the vendors next year), despite the lack of seating and adequate protection from the predictable rain, I had a cracking time. I loved the fact that I was able to introduce 80s obsessives to the delights of jiving and couldn't believe my luck in seeing the Wailers and be dancing in the Torch Club five minutes later. And, despite being fortunate enough to be given entry for my own minimal efforts, I think I would have been happy to pay for the weekend pass. Those bands don't play for free and there were a lot of them.

However, I didn't have to drive home every night and actually rather enjoy the festival experience (well, nice, polite ones like this anyway). The fact that Fleur doesn't and has clearly explained why this informed her opinion of Vintage at Goodwood is reason enough to say Fair Enough if you disagree. And breathe...

Lots of Love,

Mr. Wax

Oh blimey. I honestly don't want to bumble int...

2010-08-25T12:39:19.943+01:00

Oh blimey. I honestly don't want to bumble into things and and add fuel to the fire. And, anon(s), I'm truly not having a direct go at you in the points I am about to make. By the sounds of it, I am sure we know each other and, I hope, have a fine acquaintance. So, think of me as a bloggy Switzerland, garlanded in a white flag who has just changed his middle name to Neutral.

I would just like to make the point that the experience of two people doing apparently identical things can be utterly different if they are there for separate reasons. If you are attending exclusively for fun, as a distraction from Real Life and the working week, all the effort you put in can be refreshing, in a tiring sort of way, like a weekend's hiking, if you know what I mean.

If you are living a life where work, leisure and personality are all intermingled it really is a more exhausting venture. It means you are always "on" and have to be ready to be "You" when demanded, instead of "you". It means, in a way, performing a role, since you can't go for a drink wearing chucked-on clothes with bags under your eyes or pop out for milk in your dressing gown (unless it is *beautiful*, obviously). It means a constant outpouring of energy which has to be expended in addition to everything else at hand. It means that when utterly lovely people like The Chap ask if you would like to provide a giant tube of Bounder as a prop (and you leap at the opportunity because, of course, it is all good press but it's also great fun and What You Do), you stay up all night making it and have half an hour's sleep before the big day. In my case, you then spend that day boring the arses of anyone within earshot about how knackered you are and how putting up a tent in a monsoon whilst wearing a favourite suit is a Bad Thing. It is a testament to the best of the human spirit that nobody told me to bugger of in the face of my endless moaning.

And, of course, I am only paddling in the same waters in which Fleur is swimming like a champ; my own enterprises will, hopefully lead to full-scale world domination one day but at present are dwarfed by her activities. I didn't catch sight of Fleur being anything less than charming the entire weekend, despite putting up with considerably more hassle than yours truly, so I take my hat off to her. Actually, I literally just did; it's a little warm in here.

No wonder famous people start to go nuts and end up in rehab; I can't begin to think what it must be like if you are recognised everywhere and get pilloried in the press if you are anything less than saintly and physically unblemished. It can be a little tiresome on occasions simply as the result of having comedy facial hair; I shudder at what it must be like if your face is on every billboard.

And please, folks, do try and remember that blogs are not journals of record, unless they say so. They are mostly there to inform or entertain and make a point, which sometimes involves a little judicious jazzing up or editing of the clinically-accurate events. So, if Fleur said she did not do any shopping but bought the item for her mum (who was smashing, incidentally), is it really detracting from the fact that she did not spend hours on end perusing the stalls like many other festival-goers? Nobody is presenting evidence in court here; it's a blog aimed at giving an impression of events, not CSI.

Brilliant blog. Hilarious comments. Don't take...

2010-08-25T12:38:02.276+01:00

Brilliant blog. Hilarious comments. Don't take anything to heart Fleur - you're awesome.

Also it was little old ME that lent you and VS the sunglasses for the show. (You could probably have had my first born had you asked - I was a little starstruck!)

Anyway keep up the good work!

xx
Ruthie
(www.ruthiemccall.com)

(Agreeing with Jody above) Being Anon in order to ...

2010-08-25T12:26:58.215+01:00

(Agreeing with Jody above) Being Anon in order to write upsetting comments on someone's blog is kind of like slinging abuse at someone, while standing in their kitchen, and wearing a paper bag on your head. Odd. It doesn't earn much respect no matter how clever you are.

It helps to remember that there is a real person at the other end, and, if wouldn't say something to their face, or because of upsetting mutual friends, should you say it at all? Could you say it better?

I for one am not about to get drawn into any ridic...

2010-08-25T12:14:13.367+01:00

I for one am not about to get drawn into any ridiculous mud slinging with people. I had a good time as a volunteer, and Fleur, a good friend I might add, didn't. I camped for the second time in my life, and watched music until late at night each night because I was there and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We both have a blog, and your blog is the place to say what you think about something and to document your experiences, not say what you think people want to hear. Our opinions about the event differ greatly but that's what life is all about and although I don't feel the same as Fleur, its not my blog.

I must point out to Jody that the knitting area charged £5 for specific workshops and the whole £5 went to Oxfam. However throughout all three days, myself and a number of other volunteers sat teaching knitting and crochet free of charge to anyone who wanted. I also had four copies of one of my books stolen even though they were clearly labelled as for sale, which I could have let spoil the event for me, but everyone I met, except those people who stole my books were lovely people - some vintage, some not.

Susan

Also, I initially decided to go to the thing partl...

2010-08-25T11:09:08.103+01:00

Also, I initially decided to go to the thing partly because there was a sewing and knitting area (!) but that of course required one to book and pay extra on top. And nearly stole some 'free souviners' that turned out to part of an art installation. Oops!

Re: The drama above - very rude to insult someone in their own house. Turn 'em off.

Wow, popular blog. I was wondering what you would ...

2010-08-25T10:16:09.455+01:00

Wow, popular blog. I was wondering what you would make of Goodwood. I went on the Friday and camped (never again!), and I have to say, I was expecting more in terms of layout. That, and my disappointment in ruining my pristine 50's look with wellies, the prices of everything, and hardcore consumerist bent made it a little difficult to have a great time. But I did see a great blues act, and some big band (though I did not dare dance in my inappropriate footwear). Not a total bust for me, but not vintage heaven either. My friend and I took shelter in the 'talk tent' to have our cripplingly expensive F&M tea, only to accidentally hear the beginning of a talk on 90's dance music. Vintage, indeed!

And now I am going to turn off Anon. comments on t...

2010-08-25T10:06:46.319+01:00

And now I am going to turn off Anon. comments on this blog until this blows over, because I am sick to the back teeth of having to defend myself against cowards who are happy to insult me but not to reveal who they are, on my own blog, which anyone with one eye and two brain cells can read and work out a little about who I am and what I am like, without coming out with ignorant and insulting comments about how what I do not constituting work, that I am some vacuous vintage airhead who is just concerned with image and has no underlying passion for what I do. If you won't try to understand, then I am just wasting my breath. And these long, wordy comments about how the festival *was* wonderful, about how I can't possibly know what I'm talking about because I was only there for 8 hours a day and not 12 are just making me upset and angry. THIS IS MY OPINION and it is not the first 'soulless' review I have seen either.

If anyone else feels the urge to leave an anonymous comment slating me - tough luck.

I went, as described in my blog, to see what it wa...

2010-08-25T10:06:30.163+01:00

I went, as described in my blog, to see what it was like for myself. I wanted it to be fun and easy, as I also said, but it was not, it was hard work. I am once again defending myself pointlessly, but there we go. Naomi was the one who got bullied and insulted during the Revival, and yet, she was there too. Are you going to go off and insult her too? Perhaps tell her that selling vintage clothing is not real work? Perhaps you consider writing to not be real work either? Do let me know what you consider to be real work so I can go and do some, before claiming myself to be tired.

The fact is, anonymous PR, there are people out there who help people we like out for free. I handed out not one single business card while there. I've said several times now that I was promoting the Chap, not myself, but you do not seem to be hearing me. And no, '50 strapping men' cannot 'organise a moustache waxing competition' without me. Do you even realise how much behind the scenes work goes into something like the Chap Olympics? To source, sew and construct the props, both before and during the day? To move heavy hay bales, old iron bicycles and benches about? to choreograph the 'games'? To then be in character all day? *I* was one of the ones who had to try and gather volunteers, and it was difficult to find enough people of BOTH SEXES who were prepared to give up a weekend and come along, especially after the negative press which caused several to drop out for fear of being ridiculed at an event clearly not geared to 'our sort'. One of the girls was recovering from glandular fever, and she still came along, and she had to go on Saturday because, guess what? It was tiring her out and risking her becoming ill again. All that aside, I am the Chap's Vintage Socialite. I was expected to be there. And funnily enough, because of the Chap's extremely small budget, my work for them is purely out of love. As is a huge amount of what I do.

To imply that I dance because I feel I must, because it's part of the scene only serves to show you do not know me, and in fact makes you look utterly pig ignorant about me, and about everything I am. It's beyond insulting. For your information, I love to dance because it makes me feel graceful, it's fun, it makes me smile till my face hurts, it keep me fit, it's led me to meet some wonderful people. I only started because my best friend in the whole world is a dancer, and she had not done anything for a couple of years since her modern jazz class finished. I suggested it, and now she is the one checking every week whether I am up for the class. It is a wonderful thing to do, whether you are on the 'scene' or not - most people in my class don't wear the clothes and don't go to anything other than the dances arranged by our 'school'. I have been dedicated to vintage for over 6 years now, and yet I only started to learn swing dancing 2 years ago. Funnily enough I managed quite well on the 'scene' before I learned to dance.

I also used to go to Reading festival when I was a grungy teenager, because it was a social occasion, not because I would die if I didn't see Rancid. I wasn't nearly so glamorous then, but I still didn't enjoy camping, or mud. And I used to do a lot of drinking to keep me going. Clearly I am a terrible person.