The 50s Fair

...not for women though... not fair at all in terms of social, political and human rights.  Certainly not in comfort. The girdles and corsets!  shudder.
There is a huge vintage 50s culture revival community in Australia, in the world actually, which blows my mind a bit.  Women have fought so hard for liberation in all forms that I find it weird that women of the naughties willingly embrace the whole 50s look and ideology.  Not just the dress but manner and behaviour.

However, I do believe that this embrace is fundamentally a return to (and longing for) gallantry, formal manners and immaculate grooming and a backlash to a lackadaisical world.   I completely understand this.  Casual is reaching its abuse-by date.  

Also, I am a feminist and I love gallantry.  I have never mistaken gallantry as indicative of a weakness in me.  What utter crap!  [gallantry should never be mistaken for chauvinism.  Men are not chauvinists.  Weak males are.  And while we're here... let me clarify this... Feminists love men.  It's misandrists who hate them.]
...so...I also hope that the women [and men] who choose to recreate this ideology, understand that they have the best of both worlds.
They have made the choice to dress like this, to live like this.  It is not expected.  And they have a voice. Something which our fore-sisters did not have.  It's easy to dress and act like a 50s housewife when you will never have to be one. 

Anyway... I'm being a party pooper!  The title of this post is in reference to the event of the day.



More pics of me and of the Fifties Fair, after the jump...

Convinced my husband ("ok. should be interesting") and 14yo youngest son ("what?? no!! why are you punishing me??") to accompany daughter and I to the 50s Fair today! 

I do have a few American style 50s dresses, both vintage and vintage-vibe, but wasn't really in the mood to wear them because it would have meant the whole face and hair kit and kaboodle!  Although I do love the look, it requires far too much commitment!  sheesh.  It's a struggle for me to remember to brush my hair once in a while!
...candy colours, catty glasses and polka dots ensemble was my compromise... although I was tempted to wear some of my mum's 50s sarees!  I didn't because these are priceless vintage treasures and I would be traipsing through woods and crowds.




The Fifties Fair is a must-do on the Sydney retrofest calendar... it's held every year at the historic Rose Seidler House. [click on links for more info. click pics for large view. all links & pics will open in a new window.]

It was absolutely fun and fabulous! And I LOVED how the majority of fair-goers were dressed up! The men too! It was a glorious day... the house it is always held at has expansive grounds and people were everywhere!  So many young people!!  Not so many older people.  It seems that many yearn for the "good old days"...except for the ones who were actually there.