I think it would be interesting if it came full circle and instead of fast fashion the elite start getting 100% hand sewn clothes, machines have their own limits so it wouldn’t be a stretch to think they’d take advantage of that and show it off, PLUS it’s really not a common skill nowadays outside of historical reenactment so it’d get (even more) expensive
That would be lovely! And in mens high end tailored suits there definitely are tons of hand sewn details though typically not visible, all the pad stitching that goes into making a truly well fitting suit very much fits that bill
Technically it's already a part of haute Couture. Haute couture pieces are generally built with the basic structure machine sewn but all of the finishes from zipper placement, to seam finishing, buttonholes, hemming, etc. Are generally made by hand (idk if it's part of the laws behind "haute couture" appellation or if it's just common practice). So yeah the elite already have a system that source high quality, often natural textiles to create up to measure garments made by skilled workers with a proper social system, in good working environment and a correct wage that is regulated by law... It's Haute Couture
In part this is already happening. Think haute-couture. Not "hot off the catwalk" but the true haute-couture, where the designs on the catwalk are merely a presentation of what the designer could do and where his / her vision is at the moment and "would you like to have a bespoke piece of clothing from me, dear fashion show attendee?"
I always say “if you’re going to have an absurd amount of money, at least make something nice to look at.” It’s like “I’m so rich I make things ugly, so the poor can’t even get enjoyment from looking at it.”
Also carries undertones of "you are poor therefore you have bad taste, naturally, so you cannot possibly see the beauty in what you deem an ugly piece". I agree. It's sad.
I have to say that I've watched your shorts but never your full length videos. But am I glad I did! You're so funny, and so knowledgeable! Gonna watch everything now! 😂
And this is why an 18th/19th c. Finnish farmer's wife would put on ALL the skirts for church to show off that she could afford, what was it, 7 or 9 skirts - at least one lady got a recorded nickname for it because people thought she was being too extra 😂 The local and lower class fashions reflecting the elite at a delay and often with a twist is pretty fascinating as its own topic. (Not to mention the whole muslin thing because it starts out as an ultra elite fashion for the local ruling class in India before being imported to Europe and then copied badly and destroyed by industrialisation - they're only now starting to recreate the Dhaka muslin, and I'd love to see an example live because you think you know what fine cloth is but this is supposed to be beyond that. However, modern elites still won't pay for it because for modern people it's not expensive-looking even though the labour cost has always been astronomical, even in its original time.)
I’ve always needed color in my life. I wish I had a sad beige relative who would come to visit and then just watch them either get a headache or get converted! 💕🐝💕
I couldn't help noticing that you didn't mention the sumptuary laws of the middle ages and renaissance periods. Also, the sad beige is very much a USA thing. Here in the UK, 'old money' is the upper classes, people with titles going back generations. These days they don't all have bucket loads of money because of taxes and death duties but they have decaying stately homes full of antique furniture and fabulous art collected by ancestors over hundreds of years. They spend money on expensive, well made clothes in 'classic' styles but wear them for years and often pass them to the next generation. The rest of us shop at IKEA and buy furniture that falls apart after a few years and a lot wear fast fashion. We probably spend more in the long run but when you need a winter coat or boots you buy what you can afford at the time, even if you'll have to replace them more often.
Or you go thrifting and buy gently used good brand clothes and vintage. Look for natural materials like wool, silk and linen. Always the winner and most likely are not Shein, Fashion Nova or any of those ick brands.
I love your explanations for each historical point. It really gives a good glimpse into different slices of life at different periods! I’m always intrigued by the way things were, but I’m way more interested in the WHY. Thank you for sharing this! 😊❤
To your point of "white pieces of clothing are so difficult to keep clean" I would like to add that having an entirely black wardrobe is equally challenging. Because black does fade fast, usually within 1 to 1.5 years of regular wear and laundry. So that lovely washed / used look that blue jean people love? Forget about it with black jeans. It looks faded and dated. I redye my jeans about every 2 years.
There was apparently even this concept of "poor man's black", because dying things true black wasn't easy. (Not sure until which century this applied.)
There's also a really interesting difference between how people with old money Vs. people with new money decorate their homes in different countries in Europe. For example, I've been in the homes of some very wealthy, Old Money types in the UK, and their homes are far from the ultra minimalist "white everywhere" that's been the Nordic decor trend in recent years.
My Nan was pretty wealthy in a my husband died, I’m comfy and have a garden, and means kind of way and shed kept the same pictures for at least since I was born and they were awful and trust me it wasn’t a matter of tastes at the time they were bad her and her sons always lived a life of only privilege and I never saw any art on the walls of one of her sons, and my dad liked cartoony surrealist artwork and i really don’t know what to make of it all, I live in the UK for reference.
this was super fascinating, thank you! i’ve been super curious as to why the “sad gray” aesthetic has been so popular over the past few years. idk how i didn’t put the pieces together that it’s due to working class trying to emulate the wealthy, it’s a tale as old as time lol
Sad beige people! 😂 I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought that! To be honest if I’m going to buy something really expensive, I’ll buy it in a neutral color, ……because I’m too poor to buy it in a color that would limit the number of times I can wear it.
Haha I do that with knitting! Like 90% of my knits are grey because if I'm going to spend all that time knitting something it better go with everything and then in the end I always wish they were a strong pretty color because most of my bottoms are neutral 😂😂😂
The best thing rich people can do with their money is pay people to do stuff. *That's* trickle-down. So I want to see rich people have hand-knit sweaters and individually thrown plates and yes yes yes embroidery on everything. YES PLEASE. Very interesting and considered video, thank you.
Some dear friends of my family were incredibly rich and they expressed this by wearing clothing that was of high quality but average design (no flashy logos or what not, but you could tell the material was good quality). They lived in a nice home and drove quality (again, not flashy) vehicles. On the surface they didn’t seem all that different, until you looked into their activities. Missions trips, volunteering, engaging in their community in ways that helped build up with their resources. This - I always felt - was an EXTREMELY good course for someone with wealth.
There is another factor at play around muted colors and the class divide: the ruling global empire for two hundred years has been Britain; Britain's climate and geography are muted, whereas most of its colonies have been tropical. There is also the influence of the Church, with its emphasis on purity culture--and therefore colors. The snobbery around both has been to label bright colors as 'tacky', and [sexually] 'cheap'.
This has not been my experience. I come from a culture and country with bright fabrics and a bewildering mixture of colours, prints and fashion. As a child, I craved calm whites and beiges, plain fabrics and interiors. I felt overwhelmed and anxious even in expensive homes or wearing fancy clothing as the non stop assault of bright colours was too much. As an adult, I wear only whites, greys, beige and brown, and I seek out and crave the sad beige aesthetic because I feel really stressed with bright colours everywhere. I'm not autistic btw.
I really enjoy your video. I’ve also noticed that the ultra expensive clothing are not only grnerally of beige neutral colors and classic design, but also super expensive fiber fabric AND complicated construction. Yes, thry can be of classical or minimalistic design and even synthetic fibers (!), but the seaming and construction of the clothing are not minimalistic, the kind that are sewn using verynspecialized sewing machines and detailed cutting machines that are not available to much of the sewing factories
Imagine being so elite that it takes 40 years and pandemic to realize 1. There are people with money that compare and consider themselves superior to people like myself, and they make sure we remain in the trash where they put us, unbeknownst to us. 2. Introversion is a side effect of too many people who have no problem with their lack of boundaries or mindfulness. 3. I don't have to devolve into a Godzilla monster if I want to explore my own environment, opportunities, capabilities, limits, peacefully, unobstructed, wearing whatever I want, from their clothes to completely naked. 4. They are exposing their midbrain when they are letting their left and right hemispheres categorize us . I have never met another, that would qualify me as us.
@sew_through_time : And then we get to the point where they start importing a lot of thin cotton muslins that are so hard to keep clean... Me: Wait, you mean Marie Antionette is to blame for sad beige moms? *shocked pikachu face*
Oh let's not blame the poor girl for anything, she might have been rich but she was just as stuck in her circumstances as anyone and blamed for all the wrongs in her world that she herself was powerless to change
The rich folk can keep their sad beige and white aesthetic! No thanks! It’s also funny to me how natural fibers have gotten more expensive again and usually it’s the wealthy who are buying these pieces… but they look so drab and plain to me!
![The Quiet History of Adjustable Clothing [from a non-historian]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RjjsI27O4Pg/mqdefault.jpg)
I think it would be interesting if it came full circle and instead of fast fashion the elite start getting 100% hand sewn clothes, machines have their own limits so it wouldn’t be a stretch to think they’d take advantage of that and show it off, PLUS it’s really not a common skill nowadays outside of historical reenactment so it’d get (even more) expensive
That would be lovely! And in mens high end tailored suits there definitely are tons of hand sewn details though typically not visible, all the pad stitching that goes into making a truly well fitting suit very much fits that bill
I've always said that if I was rich, I wouldn't buy designer brands. I would pay someone, to sew me beautiful, made to measure clothing instead!
Technically it's already a part of haute Couture. Haute couture pieces are generally built with the basic structure machine sewn but all of the finishes from zipper placement, to seam finishing, buttonholes, hemming, etc. Are generally made by hand (idk if it's part of the laws behind "haute couture" appellation or if it's just common practice). So yeah the elite already have a system that source high quality, often natural textiles to create up to measure garments made by skilled workers with a proper social system, in good working environment and a correct wage that is regulated by law... It's Haute Couture
In part this is already happening. Think haute-couture. Not "hot off the catwalk" but the true haute-couture, where the designs on the catwalk are merely a presentation of what the designer could do and where his / her vision is at the moment and "would you like to have a bespoke piece of clothing from me, dear fashion show attendee?"
Enjoyed this video!
I buy a lot of used stuff.
It’s actually better quality than what I find new or could afford.
I always say “if you’re going to have an absurd amount of money, at least make something nice to look at.”
It’s like “I’m so rich I make things ugly, so the poor can’t even get enjoyment from looking at it.”
Exactly!
Also carries undertones of "you are poor therefore you have bad taste, naturally, so you cannot possibly see the beauty in what you deem an ugly piece". I agree. It's sad.
I have to say that I've watched your shorts but never your full length videos. But am I glad I did! You're so funny, and so knowledgeable! Gonna watch everything now! 😂
And this is why an 18th/19th c. Finnish farmer's wife would put on ALL the skirts for church to show off that she could afford, what was it, 7 or 9 skirts - at least one lady got a recorded nickname for it because people thought she was being too extra 😂
The local and lower class fashions reflecting the elite at a delay and often with a twist is pretty fascinating as its own topic.
(Not to mention the whole muslin thing because it starts out as an ultra elite fashion for the local ruling class in India before being imported to Europe and then copied badly and destroyed by industrialisation - they're only now starting to recreate the Dhaka muslin, and I'd love to see an example live because you think you know what fine cloth is but this is supposed to be beyond that. However, modern elites still won't pay for it because for modern people it's not expensive-looking even though the labour cost has always been astronomical, even in its original time.)
I’ve always needed color in my life. I wish I had a sad beige relative who would come to visit and then just watch them either get a headache or get converted! 💕🐝💕
I couldn't help noticing that you didn't mention the sumptuary laws of the middle ages and renaissance periods. Also, the sad beige is very much a USA thing. Here in the UK, 'old money' is the upper classes, people with titles going back generations. These days they don't all have bucket loads of money because of taxes and death duties but they have decaying stately homes full of antique furniture and fabulous art collected by ancestors over hundreds of years. They spend money on expensive, well made clothes in 'classic' styles but wear them for years and often pass them to the next generation. The rest of us shop at IKEA and buy furniture that falls apart after a few years and a lot wear fast fashion. We probably spend more in the long run but when you need a winter coat or boots you buy what you can afford at the time, even if you'll have to replace them more often.
Or you go thrifting and buy gently used good brand clothes and vintage. Look for natural materials like wool, silk and linen. Always the winner and most likely are not Shein, Fashion Nova or any of those ick brands.
Sumptuary laws 4:30
@amazinggrace5692 sorry must have missed it.
I love your explanations for each historical point. It really gives a good glimpse into different slices of life at different periods! I’m always intrigued by the way things were, but I’m way more interested in the WHY. Thank you for sharing this! 😊❤
To your point of "white pieces of clothing are so difficult to keep clean" I would like to add that having an entirely black wardrobe is equally challenging. Because black does fade fast, usually within 1 to 1.5 years of regular wear and laundry. So that lovely washed / used look that blue jean people love? Forget about it with black jeans. It looks faded and dated. I redye my jeans about every 2 years.
True, black is also tricky because it often times still has shades to it and not all blacks go together.
There was apparently even this concept of "poor man's black", because dying things true black wasn't easy. (Not sure until which century this applied.)
There's also a really interesting difference between how people with old money Vs. people with new money decorate their homes in different countries in Europe.
For example, I've been in the homes of some very wealthy, Old Money types in the UK, and their homes are far from the ultra minimalist "white everywhere" that's been the Nordic decor trend in recent years.
My Nan was pretty wealthy in a my husband died, I’m comfy and have a garden, and means kind of way and shed kept the same pictures for at least since I was born and they were awful and trust me it wasn’t a matter of tastes at the time they were bad her and her sons always lived a life of only privilege and I never saw any art on the walls of one of her sons, and my dad liked cartoony surrealist artwork and i really don’t know what to make of it all, I live in the UK for reference.
this was super fascinating, thank you! i’ve been super curious as to why the “sad gray” aesthetic has been so popular over the past few years. idk how i didn’t put the pieces together that it’s due to working class trying to emulate the wealthy, it’s a tale as old as time lol
Sad beige people! 😂 I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought that!
To be honest if I’m going to buy something really expensive, I’ll buy it in a neutral color, ……because I’m too poor to buy it in a color that would limit the number of times I can wear it.
Haha I do that with knitting! Like 90% of my knits are grey because if I'm going to spend all that time knitting something it better go with everything and then in the end I always wish they were a strong pretty color because most of my bottoms are neutral 😂😂😂
@@sewthroughtime I know right. I’m going to have to take a risk and go with a color that I love and stay away from the ‘beige’
@@jmsuther01 if you ask me green goes with everything 😜 and so does merlot...
The best thing rich people can do with their money is pay people to do stuff. *That's* trickle-down. So I want to see rich people have hand-knit sweaters and individually thrown plates and yes yes yes embroidery on everything. YES PLEASE.
Very interesting and considered video, thank you.
Some dear friends of my family were incredibly rich and they expressed this by wearing clothing that was of high quality but average design (no flashy logos or what not, but you could tell the material was good quality). They lived in a nice home and drove quality (again, not flashy) vehicles. On the surface they didn’t seem all that different, until you looked into their activities. Missions trips, volunteering, engaging in their community in ways that helped build up with their resources. This - I always felt - was an EXTREMELY good course for someone with wealth.
There is another factor at play around muted colors and the class divide: the ruling global empire for two hundred years has been Britain; Britain's climate and geography are muted, whereas most of its colonies have been tropical. There is also the influence of the Church, with its emphasis on purity culture--and therefore colors. The snobbery around both has been to label bright colors as 'tacky', and [sexually] 'cheap'.
Always excited to see a new video from u! As a very anti-sad beige person this is so interesting and tracks very well 😅
Thanks ❤️ yes as you might be able to tell I'm anti-sad beige people fashion and minimalims too 😂
Love the way you explained this concept - I always enjoy your videos and it’s nice to see that many more people are enjoying them too - 💖
This has not been my experience. I come from a culture and country with bright fabrics and a bewildering mixture of colours, prints and fashion. As a child, I craved calm whites and beiges, plain fabrics and interiors. I felt overwhelmed and anxious even in expensive homes or wearing fancy clothing as the non stop assault of bright colours was too much. As an adult, I wear only whites, greys, beige and brown, and I seek out and crave the sad beige aesthetic because I feel really stressed with bright colours everywhere. I'm not autistic btw.
I really enjoy your video. I’ve also noticed that the ultra expensive clothing are not only grnerally of beige neutral colors and classic design, but also super expensive fiber fabric AND complicated construction. Yes, thry can be of classical or minimalistic design and even synthetic fibers (!), but the seaming and construction of the clothing are not minimalistic, the kind that are sewn using verynspecialized sewing machines and detailed cutting machines that are not available to much of the sewing factories
Love the pillow sleeve dance! 😂
I love all your videos, and I learn so much! I look forward to them, and I re-watch many of them. Thank you so much!
I always enjoy your researched videos. It helps understand so much of our culture now.
Glad you enjoyed it ❤️
Imagine being so elite that it takes 40 years and pandemic to realize
1. There are people with money that compare and consider themselves superior to people like myself, and they make sure we remain in the trash where they put us, unbeknownst to us.
2. Introversion is a side effect of too many people who have no problem with their lack of boundaries or mindfulness.
3. I don't have to devolve into a Godzilla monster if I want to explore my own environment, opportunities, capabilities, limits, peacefully, unobstructed, wearing whatever I want, from their clothes to completely naked.
4. They are exposing their midbrain when they are letting their left and right hemispheres categorize us . I have never met another, that would qualify me as us.
😃😊Wonderful video. I really enjoy learning from you. Love your funny outtakes 😄🥰
I’m guessing you made your dress yourself - I’m obsessed with it! Beautiful!
Nope this one is Son de Flor
@@sewthroughtime Some what expensive, but very nice stuff.
So good,.I enjoyed that very much, thank you🥰
@sew_through_time : And then we get to the point where they start importing a lot of thin cotton muslins that are so hard to keep clean...
Me: Wait, you mean Marie Antionette is to blame for sad beige moms? *shocked pikachu face*
Oh let's not blame the poor girl for anything, she might have been rich but she was just as stuck in her circumstances as anyone and blamed for all the wrongs in her world that she herself was powerless to change
@@sewthroughtime Very true - but it does make for a great 'hot take' quote. XD
❤
The rich folk can keep their sad beige and white aesthetic! No thanks! It’s also funny to me how natural fibers have gotten more expensive again and usually it’s the wealthy who are buying these pieces… but they look so drab and plain to me!
We can do better as a society than making everything black, white and grey.🤢 Cars, homes, clothes, it's everywhere.
Or, donate that money to good causes.
❤🧡💛💚💙
You know, I actually have wondered about that! Especially since I personally despise the 'sad, beige aesthetic' 🫣😎