Without the prim skirts that ripple to startling heights and the cloudy rhinestones that wink from the front of a bodice, the swing-dance venues might be just any old stomping ground for another restless generation.
Somehow, those vintage clothes help transform beer-stained floors into a foundation for an alternately refined and uproariously fun evening.
Often, the slim silhouettes of dresses from the ’30s and ’40s or the fuller variety from the ’50s attract women (and men) before they know a single step of basic six-count swing. Feminine details such as bows or luxe adornments such as beading complement what perhaps is the greatest charm of all: the fit.
Those in the know are unashamed to have to shimmy into some of their dresses–the clothes sometimes are uncooperative because of boning, darts and snugly cut shoulders.
“You can’t get some of the women’s (dresses) on too easily,” says Tari Costan, owner of Silver Moon, a Lakeview vintage boutique. “But once you get them on, it’s a beautiful fit, unlike the way they make (clothes) today.”
All the same, the bottom half of dresses better offer a decent turning radius for dancers, who often favor ’50s flouncy skirts.
“You are basically doing aerobics all dressed up with makeup on,” swing fan Kristen Wienandt, 33, notes.
Because those skirts do flare up from time to time, some wear cycling-style shorts to shield against shocking displays. Others simply slip on a pair of full-coverage panties with garters for playful effect. “In movies like `Swing Kids,’ their underwear was showing all the time and they didn’t seem to mind,” Wienandt says.
For the extremities, securely fastened hats and gloves add elegance. Shoes, however, often require a concession to modern style. Department stores or dance-apparel shops, such as Motion Unlimited at 218 S. Wabash Ave., can supply the moderate heel height and Mary Jane detail.
VINTAGE VANTAGE POINTS
Looking for that unusual vintage item to draw attention to your dance moves? Numerous shops offer a huge supply of clothes and accessories dating to swing’s heyday. Here’s a sampling:
– Flashy Trash, 3524 N. Halsted St. (773-327-6900), brims with women’s vintage clothing and accessories in superb condition. Dresses range in price from about $25 to the hundreds. Period hats cost $18 to $50.
– Hubba Hubba, 3338 N. Clark St. (773-477-1414), carries a cool selection of 1920s to 1950s women’s clothes, including suits. Beaded sweaters range from $50 to $90.
– Shangrila, 1952 W. Roscoe St. (773-348-5090), sells vintage duds from the ’30s through the ’70s. Rayon dresses from the ’40s run between about $10 and $40. Hard-to-find vintage shoes cost from $10 to $25.
– Silver Moon, 3337 N. Halsted St. (773-883-0222), is a favorite with the swing crowd because it specializes in ’30s and ’40s fashion, with period hats, gloves, jewelry and dresses. Dresses range from about $35 to $75.
– Strange Cargo, 3448 N. Clark St. (773-327-8090), which takes its name from a Clark Gable and Joan Crawford movie of the same name, sells vintage clothes from the ’50s through the ’80s, including ’40s day dresses, between $10 and $40.
– Wacky Cats, 3109 N. Lincoln Ave. (773-929-6701), carries garb from the ’40s through ’60s, with emphasis on women’s ’40s clothes. Vintage hats sell for $10, gloves from $3 to $20. Period shoes run $18 and up.
– Wisteria, 3715 N. Southport Ave. (773-880-5868), sells an array of ’40s-era togs, gloves and dresses. Average price is $36.
