The Problem with Modern Fashion

[@VBirchwood]

Hi everyone! Just a heads up, I open up about my past struggles with body image and self-worth in this video 💕 Recording this video meant a lot to me, so I hope that you'll enjoy it too. Thanks for watching. See you in two weeks!

[@carolinemaluca]

This video was like a tea time with you V! 💕

[@MichiaMakes]

Ya know, anyone who has made it through this life without ever having body or self esteem issues…well, god bless them! I have no idea how anyone can get through this life without going through a time their body felt or seemed “wrong” in some way. This body part is too big. This body part is to small. I was just 😢 I got boobs at 9, but was anorexic. Not nervosa, but a metabolic disorder that wrecked my body. But society made assumptions about why and how I looked the way I looked. It was all ugly. I went to a very affluent school in a district with famous people, but I could only afford one outfit from the thrift store. There was just so much. Thank you 🙏🏻 for reminding us to be kinder to ourselves and what/how we want to feel about what we wear. I love the community of people who live life with an intention in mind. Life in general is better when we move forward with kindness and compassion and intention for our world. I move forward in life still envying beautiful humans with round hips, because I fell in love with a silhouette in 1979 🤷🏻‍♀️. Low and behold it was from 1899. In that regard, nothing has changed. Now, I know to go about finding and making the things that make me happy. Your channel happens to be a safe and happy place. Thank you 🙏🏻 so very much for that.

[@VBirchwood]

@Pull54545454 by society. Sometimes going against the grain can be a lonely journey, and I think that’s a big reason why many are afraid to move away from society’s expectations, because with doing so can sometimes come a lot of isolation. It has nothing to do with gender.

[@linpollitt8950]

​@@VBirchwoodHave you seen Zack Pinsent? You'd love him x

[@ericalarochelle3779]

I appreciated hearing your perspective on these topics and hearing an update on your Tartar attire endeavor; I know I am one of the people very much looking forward to learning about their dress and history, but I would like you to know that I would rather you take your time to feel good about your presentation of information than feel pressured to deliver sooner than you are ready!

[@АнтонМан-ч9к]

I am a men. 34 year old. I do like classical mens clothing. I think it most comfortable. High waist trousers with suspenders, waistcoat, nice jacket and newsboy cap - makes you warm and comfy. You have a lots of pockets. You dont need to be stressed about your not ideal, not atletical enough body. I love classic clothing.

[@jennifermoriarty2188]

I'm 34, and do 1890s women wear

[@EggandChris]

how many men?

[@linpollitt8950]

Marry me! I'll buy you a trilby hat 😂

[@GreenAndGoth]

Classically styled men’s clothing is just so much more clean cut and tailored. Beautiful stuff.

[@robsonfrancisco3719]

I'm 19 and I'm into 1920s-50s style. I mean, I'm wearing a newsboy cap in my profile😅 Some people have said to me that it's for old people and others have liked it. In the end, it's just opinions. But I hope we can influence others on dressing more 'appropriately'

[@skolljumper]

I'm so tired of every aspect of my life being pushed on how much money it will make other people

[@reginawarburton3255]

absolutely! i applaud you for putting this into words for those who could not.

[@VBirchwood]

Very well said!

[@milanewtonauthor]

sums it all up perfectly!

[@ellie623]

I absolutely agree and you put it perfectly!

[@suebotchie4167]

That's what reprobates do, take take take, never give back.

[@kendall7041]

I started handsewing historically inspired clothing a couple of years ago and now i'm experiencing my first pregnancy and it's been SO wonderful to still be able to wear all the clothes I spent so much time on because they adjust with my changing body.

[@shantall.]

Congrats on your pregnancy!! 🎉❤ (I hope it doesnt come as inappropriate, and if it does, I apologize.) Please, tell me more about hand-sewn historical pieces, I'm VERY interested!!!

[@kendall7041]

@@shantall. No worries, Thank you! I really got started just watching channels like this one, Bernadette Banner, Abby Cox, Mariah Pattie etc. I don't have a sewing machine and find them super intimidating so I decided to just hand sew. Even though it's obviously slower, I really enjoy the process, it's calming and pleasant and I find my garments to hold up just as well!

[@JennySimon206]

So is hand sewing far superior or could I get away with making awesome period clothes on a sewing machine? I want to learn to sew. Someone's mom died and gave me a sewing machine and serger. I crochet and got some interchangeable knitting needles for Christmas so I have a dress form too. I'd love to make my own boots too. It's even harder for me to find shoes. My right foot is bigger. I'm always between sizes.

[@JennySimon206]

Oh yeah and I'm short and petite, 5'1 and 105lbs so yeah. Hard to find clothes.

[@naolucillerandom5280]

​​​@@JennySimon206 A lot of it is choosing the right fabrics and patterns, and taking your time to make sure it's made well. Hand sewing does allow for more precise work, but it's not essential. A lot of people do only the hemming or a few last details by hand :)

[@rhiannonayley8159]

Many years ago, my mother told me that we always say: 'that looks great on you' instead of 'you look great in that'. Many of us do have a tendency to look in the mirror and think it is ourselves who look wrong or right, instead of whether or not the clothing we are wearing is bringing out the best in us. Whenever someone asks me how they look, I try to remember that and let them know that they are the ones who look great in the clothing that flatters them, not the other way around. Love your content!

[@josepharmstrong6852]

Fair enough

[@jenniferstone2567]

I've had my struggles with body image and self-esteem. My own sister was so jealous of me that she would intentionally tell me I looked good in something, like a dress or skirt, so I bought said item, then would later tell me how fat or bad i looked in it. It's been nearly twenty years since i cut all contact with her (there were a lot of other issues on top of this), and I'm just getting into a good head space with clothing, to the point where I can trust my own judgement again. Thank you so much for posting this video.

[@VBirchwood]

I’m so incredibly sorry that your sister treated you this way and I’m so happy to hear that you’re getting into a good head space with clothing again ❤

[@heyspeckle8782]

I really felt this comment. My sister also needed to put other people, especially me, down to feel better about herself. Going no contact was the best thing to do. I'm glad you can leave her comments behind and trust yourself!

[@milanewtonauthor]

my mum had a cousin who would do that. She's 73 and never got over it. It's a horrible way to be treated.

[@Ri57490]

People shouldn't base their self-worth on how they look or how others think they look

[@laa4438]

I spent my teens and early 20s wearing black jogging bottoms and oversized black sweatshirts. Wearing anything else would prompt vicious mocking from my much older sister . I Didnt speak to her for years . She's now in her 50s and actually compliments me, which is very confusing 😆

[@northwestsparrow]

As a 60+ woman who has spent a lifetime rejecting societal norms, I truly appreciate your sentiment in this video, and concur. As for how we help to evoke change in our world, it starts with being people of honesty and integrity (and the buddhistic middle path helps as well). Thank you for being you! Oh, and my best friend and I are getting back to sewing our own clothing this year -- and weaving cloth as well.🌺 Thank you for sharing your path with us!

[@VBirchwood]

Thanks so much Sparrow ❤ best of luck on this year’s sewing journey!

[@FlernMode-oj9rq]

Wow, weaving cloth? That’s truly fascinating how long does it take to do that start to finish?

[@oliviatomlinson1721]

you weave your own cloth?? auntie you gotta tell me, how does it feel being the coolest person alive? 🎤

[@darthszarych5588]

Compassion is always the way to go tbh! I was raised catholic and compassion for everyone was the big take away for me! It's the best way to live!

[@--legion]

"... spent a lifetime rejecting societal norms..." A life wasted. But, no doubt, you'll believe to your dying day that feminism has a greater knowledge of human nature than Nature itself.

[@dawnjeffersramstad8401]

Your talk today brought back memories of Song Chen-Sen, my theology professor at Pacific School of Religion. He began the first lecture I heard him deliver by talking about fast fashion as the example of how we live our beliefs. (The class was titled "This I believe!") Dr. Song had us look at our shoes and think of who made them. Most of our shoes were mass produced in Asia. He "encouraged" us to hold this thought as we explored Christian theology. That day changed me to always remember everything has a maker. We cannot get dressed without depending on the labor of someone. While I have returned to sewing my own clothes, every cut of fabric I bring home has a maker. The wool in every hat I knit came from a sheep who had a shepherd. Thank you for bringing this memory from September 1993 back to my mind and my heart.❤

[@swimmerbc]

“When bodies are treated as trends that need to be often permanently changed every few years, that’s a frightening reality.” Super profound words that I don’t normally get from a KZbin video. Thanks for having the courage to spit truth like this. Keep putting together the wonderful work that you’ve been doing. Appreciate your bravery and honesty here.

[@HosCreates]

I agree ! there is a lack of compassion for our bodies the way they are . finding clothing to fit your body is so hard lately it makes you want to not even put on clothing sometimes.

[@VBirchwood]

It’s very true! Or even just finding garments in the store that really feel like an accurate representation of one’s personality

[@Lafayette19P]

​@@VBirchwood It's even impossible to find some black sweatpants and hoodie in the measurements that fit you right. And by now that's the only thing I would like to wear. I'm just under 57 and I really don't know what to wear. In my early 20's I used to sew beautiful haute couture dresses, skirts, trousers and blazers for the office. And in my late teens I was a model (not skinny heroïne chic but like a bikini model). Meanwhile I was very insecure although in hindsight I know now I had a nearly perfect body. So I enjoyed fashion but not always what was IN fashion. I had my own styles. And people as old as I am now myself wore the awful grandma-dresses. Now we're supposed to wear... I don't know what actually is appropriate for my age. And I aged badly: I would really benefit from a face lift if I had the money and if I would be sure of the outcome. And unlike most women after menopause I didn't gain weight: I lost it. Unwillingly and at all the wrong places. So : vanished were my bootie and boobies!!! Look just like a stick-like figure with very long and way too thin legs. Like how a child would draw it's very first drawing of a person. I actually hate my body so much that I have trouble taking care of it (skincare, manicure etc). I think it's sad that society judges people upon how they look. Looking very beautiful can isolate you as well because people don't look at your characteristics or find you hard to approach because they think you'll be stuck-up. And as I said: I was insecure, shy and felt ugly even when I did foto-shoots in other countries and was in magazines. And now I lost all of my features so I feel totally not at home in my body and want to hide it. That I showed it off at a young age was not more than an attempt to be LIKED and LOVED, but for all the wrong reasons. I would never have the guts/baldness to wear clothing like yours (which I find beautiful but I think only on you after seeing some ladies in a video also wearing old fashion who aren't natural beauties). So altering your bodytype with corsets and padding won't work for everyone. Maybe I need to start a journey like you did: learn how to make patterns myself or find patterns I can alter and start looking for styles from different decades or different cultures. My hear is partially gray but relatively long and kind of gypsy like, so clothes need to match with that as well. Just thinking outloud now... maybe some old Ibiza hippy style and skirts/dresses (pants are always a problem because even if they're wide when the wind blows you still see skinny legs in thinner fabrics)... I haven't made clothes myself for 30 years now due to a too busy life and children and illnesses/stroke. I love your personality and think you're very wise for your age. Like an old soul. I admire you for doing what you do and being who you are. I hope for your sake you'll grow old beautiful and gracefully. Some of us do and some of us don't. But I'll bet you'll re-invent a style which will complement you even if your genes should fail to keep you looking so beautiful. I think you helped me: I still love crafting and I came across your channel because I wanted to know if you can sew by hand as I no longer have a sewing machine and knitting and crocheting have made me want to do more manually. I suddenly remember a comic series: Grace & Frankie on Netflix I saw last year. Maybe I should become that crazy lady and make her style a little less crazy an start making it a mission to relearn myself sewing, this time by hand and making unique stuff nobody else haves. What hides what I want to hide and very comfortable. Start loving myself instead of being dependent of what others think of me now compared to how I was admired in the past but never truly loved. And I was a kind and gentle person, a real good caretaker. But had no boundaries. A lot of people took adventage of that. You always surprise me when you allow yourself a nap or be up in late hours of the night working on a project. You make up your own rules and more people should have the same attitude. As young as possible: get yourself OUT of what society demands as proper behavior. Due to my upbringing and my marriage I never ever decided anything for myself. My mom was narcissistic and abusive (physically and mentally) and I left home at age 15. At 19 I married and my husband turned out to be a copy of my mom. I had not yet spend enough life in freedom to mentally grow. People should not waste their life's like I did and you instinctively know that at this young age. And you also experienced isolation and trouble with your self-worth but outgrown it. Never ever in my wildest dreams I could imagine learning something from anyone in your generation. Sorry that my English is bad (not my native language and school drop-out) and using so many words trying to explain everything (due to my stroke I over-explain). Ever since I rattle and rattle on, not coming to the point: that this video and thinking about my troubles inspired me to SOLUTIONS (whilst I was desperate and hopeless). Never too old to learn and re-invent fashion and thereby gaining a new identity which will make my life have purpose and a goal again (besides my kids, but truly if that's the only reason to be alive that's not a good place to be at). Thank you from the bottom of my heart❤!!! I hope to learn a lot of practical stuff too because after 30 years of not sewing it feels overwhelming but I remember when I see it: like always wash your fabric before you start making anything and new things like weights on your pattern instead of pinning the pattern onto the fabric. I have no supplies left and really need to start over again since mid-90's was the last time I sewed. So I guess it'll take a couple of years. But in 3 years from now I want to go from making my own pin cushion to celebrating my 60th birthday in something I would LOVE to wear. And my designs can be very simple ofcourse but I'm kinda slow. Everyday tasks are a problem for me since my stroke so things will take me more time than the average person. But I shouldn't let me stop that or doubt my decision. In Dutch we have have an old saying: 1 draadje per dag is een hemdsmouw in een jaar. Which translates something like 1 thread a day will make a shirt's sleeve in a year. Thanks again!! A lot!!!

[@TheHighwayHare]

As a child growing up in the 1970's, I asked my grandmother to make me 1870's dresses, which I wore all the time. Later, I became a civil war reenactor, I loved making and wearing all 1860's style dresses, using a period sewing machine, and wearing bonnets and hats. I still sew all my special occasion outfits and my daughters dresses. My designs are NOTHING like modern clothing, I create my own style based on different time periods. All I get are compliments and it makes me feel wonderful.

[@LiljaHusmo]

I too gravitated towards ”alternative” fashions as a teen, and still i couldn't escape the pressure of ”looking right”, even within those spaces, (any wierdo millenial/early gen z will remember the horrible emo image Tumblr etc. loved to portray of that aesthetic) I'm slowly unlearning all the harmful body images I had and still have, but making my own clothes and not shopping at fast fashion stores has helped me immensely tbh Thank you for this lovely video ❤ looking forward to the next one!

[@VBirchwood]

Sending you lots of love ❤

[@LiljaHusmo]

@@TheNameIsFa11 there is absolutely nothing wrong with dressing alternatively, I still really love a lot of alt fashion, I was just remembering that when I was in my teens an awful lot of alt fashion "influencers" weren't very good role models despite the alternative and punk image, they would often be very gate-keeping. Definitely wear what you feel comfortable with, there is no way of dressing wrong ❤️

[@habituscraeftig]

I feel like there's a loveliness to people's faces that comes from slow familiarity that tends to get lost when we reduce a person to still images and the quick judgments of first impressions. I feel there is something incredibly important about coming to know a person's beauty through their mannerisms and expression rather than consuming them at a glance. This is also why, although I wear flamboyant clothing, I avoid recognizable categories, where I can. I want to remain individual and irreducible - to confront people with their inability to read me. Likewise, I view my face as rather pleasant, actually - but I improve upon acquaintance, and I'm proud of that. My goal isn't to turn heads when I walk into a room. It's to turn heads when I exit a sparkling conversation. Of course, I am more aesthetically attracted to certain people than others - especially at first meeting - and I also have more immediate sexual attraction to some bodies than others (often quite distinct from my aesthetic preferences). But I have never looked at someone I actually *know* and thought of them as unattractive - unless there was some deeper emotional baggage. For example, I have an ex whose features have come to feel "wrong" in the aftermath of the relationship, but that reflects the sense of betrayal I felt for how I was treated. It didn't bother me before, and it isn't the sort of physical feature that would bother me on anyone else. I assume it's a protective instinct to keep me from going back to that relationship. It certainly has no relation to how I viewed their looks when we first got together. In a sense, I learned to loathe them. But I do not generally feel that kind of aesthetic contempt, elsewhere. For me, it requires social and emotional context to view someone as ugly. (Edited for clarity.)

[@auricia201]

I agree, attractiveness really is a "whole package" of physical characteristics and personality. Among family we have a saying which is "ugly handsome", which is, a couple of physical characteristics that usually aren't thought of being pretty, but put together makes a very handsome face. Only used among family because it is easily misinterpreted 😅 I also have a hard time finding celebrities and models handsome, because the way they pose makes them void of personality. If anything, they just give a smug look, which is unattractive (even if their own personality isn't really like that)

[@exon1061]

Beautifully written

[@littlefoxx333]

I love your comment. You sound like such a deep person, I am sure you leave an impression on others in that way too

[@ChantalM3]

I like your last sentence in the last paragraph especially. I've pondered at times as I see my aging face how so many other women of every age that I've known over the years have just looked fine to me. They were just themselves, and I liked them for themselves, and I never really thought about the lines on their faces, etc. So, it makes it that much easier to accept the changes in my own. I probably look fine to others, just like they did/do to me.

[@karenfitzpatrick6256]

There is a quote, " There is no beauty without an element of strangeness" I think it refers to the uniqueness of each of us. We should appreciate it There is the first impression, then when it becomes the familiar our perception changes. Except for my children, I've never "loved at first sight" but I've certainly grown to love many people. I guess the lesson would be, look at others as a book, it's not the cover that that makes it great, it's what is revealed from inside. Your outward appearance is just your cover art. Let it fit you. How you feel in your skin and in your clothes is what matters the most.

[@cheekyghost2284]

Your video and Karolina's have really resonated with me. I've been considering wearing vintage/historical clothing for a while, & I think this helped me understand why I'm drawn to the idea. What I care about most is history, art, and knowledge, so those clothes would reflect my values. In the past all fashion was 'slow fashion', and was custom made or altered to fit and flatter the individual's natural body. It was a kind practice. Modern fashion tricks us into thinking our bodies are wrong & need fixed; that we should all fit into a limited size and shape range of pre-made plastic garments. It's a cruel practice. I never felt fulfilled in alternative fashion subcultures either. They're better than mainstream trend-chasing for fostering individiality, but they're equally unforgiving. Both mainstream and alternative fashion constantly seeks to declare people "not good enough" and uphold unachievable standards. Authentic dressing with a body neutral attitude should be what we all ascribe to, living for our true inner selves and our values, not just wearing whatever is 'in' at the moment.

[@noblethoughts4500]

So well said!

[@KlingonPrincess]

I loved hearing your thoughts about fashion, compassion, and gratefulness today. I've been really appreciating older TV shows and British shows where people look like people not photo filtered faces. I am taking time to appreciate my wrinkles, pores, etc. I am a human with human complexion. 💜💛

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much! It’s so important we all learn to radically love our human-ness ❤ I’m so glad you’re taking the time to appreciate yours.

[@moxiebombshell]

@@VBirchwood Yes exactly (you too, Klingon Princess)!! I unexpectedly started to tear up at the end of your video (and again, now) because I it made me realize how much energy I've been giving to the thought that I don't "look right," that now I'm not only too heavy but now too old and too unfashionable. The messages sent by advertisers, marketers, etc. are so pervasive and insidious that even though I'm a whole entire grownup who "knows better," I can still fall prey to those kind of thoughts if I dare to drop my guard.

[@lindastrout695]

Having a tough day today. Thank you for reminding me of my intrinsic worth.

[@VBirchwood]

You are more than enough, and you deserve so much joy and happiness in life 💕

[@leoscheibelhut940]

As an older guy, I really appreciate you thoughts and concerns about modern fashion and the body image struggles you experience. You are very correct and insightful when say, "You are enough." I began watching your channel because I'm interesting in dressing period and status appropriate as a reenactor. As the father of a child with body image issues what you shared helps me to understand and help them. Thank you. I am also concerned about the problems of the fast fashion industry and pointless ad driven excessive consumption in general.

[@vincentbriggs1780]

Oh man, yes clothing being made to accommodate body fluctuations is so important, and it's terrible that it's so much less common now! A lot of historical breeches and trousers have lacing or a buckle tab at the back of the waistband so it's easily adjustable, and I make all my everyday trousers like that too. I can change the waist size by 3 inches easily. The modern dress pants I alter at work are made so the waist can be easily altered, but it's still way more bother to take it to a tailor than to just tighten up some lacing or a buckle. And jeans usually don't even have a seam at the back of the waistband! Growing up I mostly felt awful about my body for gender reasons, and am much much more comfortable after transitioning, and it's absolutely horrible to know that there are whole industries out there trying to make people feel that bad on purpose just for some arbitrary beauty standard that'll change again in another few years.

[@piccalillipit9211]

I just read your comment and give you a sub. I make this book men's suits 1900 to 1930, but I'm thinking of trying a few things on the 18th century in the near future

[@elmarklaus]

I just found your channel! As another trans dude interested in historical fashion, I see men's content severely lacking on KZbin and that hurts me. As soon as I move back home to my sewing place I'm going to make the leafkerchief!

[@johannageisel5390]

@@elmarklaus Happy to hear the trans crowd is picking up the slack! :D You're right, there isn't much costube content for men.

[@johannageisel5390]

Wow, that leaf headcloth is amazing! I love it. I frequently wear a headcloth for gardening, because it protects my head from heat and cold and also keeps all those tiny, wispy strands of hair out of my face. I can totally see myself wearing a leafkerchief outside of my garden work too. But I might fancy it up a little and give it a little more "fluff" in the front part. Maybe cutting it wider so I can wrap the ends around the head instead of only knotting them in the back. Great idea from you, thanks!

[@VBirchwood]

So cool about the historical breeches and trousers also being super accommodating for body fluctuations! And thanks so much for sharing your story Vincent! ☺️

[@lilyhempt1144]

I’ve been buying almost all my clothes and shoes second hand for the past 7 years now. Even my nice work clothes. It started because I couldn’t afford anything new but at some point it turned into a game I enjoy and find fulfillment in. ❤ and I love knowing I’m not adding to some of the problems of modern fashion. I find natural fabrics like silk, wool, linen and cotton whenever possible. I

[@74beezer]

For every man that makes a comment, there's 100 men who love what you are doing and do not leave a comment. Keep on being you, and keep on inspiring us all.

[@MijnWolden]

I was easily overwhelmed by the pace trends were coming as well. My sister was an early adopter of much fashion trends, and always poking fun at me for being at least two years later in incorporating certain items into my wardrobe. But I just hold on Longer to my belongings, clothing included. I try to wear them as long as I can. I have since stopped trying to fit in and now only wear either handmade or thrifted clothing and I find that I have now found a style that makes me feel confident and myself in clothes that lean heavily to historic fashion. I have learned that when I stand in front of the mirror and ask myself the question ''do I want to fit in on earth of fit in on Middle Earth?'' it's the latter that wins every day now.

[@KateandBree]

One of the reasons I stopped buying fast fashion and looked into options where the shop cut clothing to my size was because I spent more time and money tailoring them (and then they would wear out quickly) than I did at the store. I was so fed up with this and I was fed up knowing that the women who sewed these cheap garments were often paid little, mistreated and often sterilized. My first purchase at eShakti was eye-opening. Not only was my dress made to my measurements, it came with a piece of paper that had written down the names of the women who made my pattern, cut and sewed it, and made sure it was up to quality. It always costs more to get my clothes custom made, but at least I know I will have them for life. They fit me and I look great in them. Plus, whenever I see the names of the women who made my clothes, I know how much dedication went into making them. I send (via e-mail) my gratitude every time I make a purchase. I don't make purchases often, but I always make sure it's a garment I need.

[@eyesofthegoddess2967]

you are an old soul, such understanding and compassion for one so young. I truly enjoy and thrive when watching your vlogs. I am in the process of getting patterns' reproduced from '40s' and '50s'. It is the era I feel most comfortable due to my large size and proportions. I love the way they look and the attraction is partway of what suits you according to psychological studies. Do not change who you are unless you are happy for the change. We love you the way you are and I know that I do here. Love from Canada.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much 🥰 best of luck on your 40s and 50s reproductions!

[@nurmaybooba]

I admire you very much. I am 71(!) and have been rejected by society since I hit my teens as a chubby teen when Twiggy was the queen goddess...Now I wear what I like wearing what is comfortable...What would help us as a collective is for us to not want so much...do I need 10 prs of slacks/jeans? I also think that sewing our own clothes is a good thing....I needed "homemade" nearly all my life since nothing was made for my body ... Now I personally like folk fashion...I still want to make a sarafan, I have been devising my own pattern....at 71 am I too old to go this way...into folk fashion as what I wear. I also like shawal and kameez, I have worn saris and have many thrifted ones .... I am so proud of you and the other women whom I follow on this great experiment of the internet...you have found you, and I feel that this was the goal of my generation's activism ....for you to be allowed to be you....

[@baharpiena9246]

You know, I love historical fashion and try to combine this with 'modern' clothing. I watch youtube channels about vintage/ historical fashion. But most of them go for the real historical/ vintage accurete sewing/making etc etc. I sometimes feel the pressure to do exact they advise/showing it, I feel intimidated because of the skills most of them have. This is for me the same as wat you are telling about modern fashion. Great video. I am happy that you did this.😘👌🏼

[@LixiaWinter]

Do you watch Shannon Makes? She does fantastic historybounding things

[@sharonlevine483]

Don't be intimidated, just start somewhere, like the simplest tops or a gathered skirt. Learn on house clothes, pajamas, plain pants, and leave the intense historical stuff for the future. You will get there!

[@baharpiena9246]

@@sharonlevine483 ❤️👍🏻🫠

[@varde42]

Every tiniest thing that You mend, alter and make is a step away from fast fashion and that is so worth celebrating :) And skill level that most people would feel confident to display publicly take hundreds of hours if not years of practice. All the best in Your sewing journey 🙂🙂🙂

[@johannageisel5390]

Historybounding is perfectly legit! When I make reenactment garments, I try to be as historically accurate as my knowledge, skills, budget and time allow at the moment, but I also love to incorporate historical elements into my upcycling of modern clothing. I want to build up a new wardrobe for myself, because a lot of stuff I own does not fit me anymore, so I want to upcycle it into new things. And I will totally use historical inspiration for this! For those projects I will use a sewing machine and modern zippers and whatnot, but I will also handfinish some parts. For example, I think that the hem of a skirt made from only a few panels (i.e. where large parts of the hem have been cut on a bias) lies better when you finish it with a hemming stitch then when you topstitch it with a machine. But other parts will look neat when topstitched with a machine, so I'm going to use that there. It's all a matter of taste. :)

[@adriennefranklin5986]

Thanks for posting this video and being so open. I'm a 61 year old woman that has struggled my whole life with body image and self acceptance. Everything you said really was thought provoking.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much Adrienne! I’m so sorry you’ve struggled your whole life with self acceptance. I just want to remind you that you are more than enough 💕

[@Turquerina]

I come from a family of Buddhists myself so I'm honored to know that you practice it, and internalizing its many virtues! My grandma would be proud. As for how we can make deep meaningful changes, unfortunately, it's individuals against corporations so it's going to be tough. The ways I try to make meaningful changes is by using my right to vote for who I think may help regulate these companies. Supporting unions and small independent brands can help. I've been wanting to learn how to sew, especially clothes from Vietnam as my parents are immigrants. It'd be nice to experiment with different dynastic period but I'm just starting off with the basics. When it comes to making the Kazan Tatar video, take as much time as you need, I'm sure it'd be very illuminating to learn about!

[@loftyradish6972]

I have always dressed differently from my peers, but fortunately I'm neurodivergent and it makes it a whole lot easier for me to have a healthy body image and wear whatever I want. I just don't really understand the desire to "fit in," I don't know how to be anything but myself, and don't know why I would want to not be myself. I'm not an overly social being and prefer to be alone, so I won't even notice if I'm being ostracised for being different, let alone be scared of that happening. When I was a teen, one of my good friends decided she wanted to "fit in" and stopped talking to me and completely changed how she looked and dressed. I just didn't understand, and still don't, and it was really confusing for me to loose her as a friend and sad see her struggle so much to fit in when she was already such a cool, funny and interesting person. Anyway, not having that desire means I am very comfortable wearing clothes that aren't trendy, and instead wear clothes that match my body type, natural skin tone, personal preferences and the activity I plan on doing. With that being said, I have caught the desire for thinness from my family culture growing up and the media I do consume. So I do still feel self-conscious of my muffin top, belly pooch and jiggly thighs. The thing I have found most helpful in accepting my body is reminding myself that this is how I should look. I am on the lower end of a healthy weight for a woman of my age and height, I just have a natural hourglass shape and that comes with jiggles, a belly pooch and a muffin top. If I were to loose those things, I would be unhealthily thin. When I feel myself beginning to focus on those things, I tell the mirror "this is how I should look" and when I see images of people who do fit the thin beauty ideal, I remind myself it is not possible to look like that and be healthy. Getting into history bounding has helped me too, now I have a better understanding of the kinds of illusions and tricks I can pull with my clothes and that has also helped me understand what I can do to feel better about my body without changing it. I love making my own clothes, but where previously I would make clothes that I just liked, now I make clothes I like, and know will accentuate my body in a way I like, while smoothing over features I'm a little more self conscious about. Its awesome and you have been a part of that journey, so thank you for being you, and for having the courage to push back against the social pressure to conform.

[@MissPlaced84]

Learning about fitting garments actually helped me a lot with body image. I stopped thinking "I'm too [big/small/oddly shaped]" and started thinking "these pants are too small here, and too big there for me." FYI, "muffin top" wasn't a thing before low-rise jeans, having a "thigh gap" wasn't a thing anyone noticed before stretch denim. These are all symptoms of us not being able to buy clothes in a variety of shapes and sizes.

[@loftyradish6972]

@@MissPlaced84 That is such a great point, and my muffin top actually accentuates my hourglass figure, the only time I notice it is when I wear anything low-rise. It really is the clothes rather than us 🥰

[@linpollitt8950]

Most women, even young ones, struggle with the muffin top. I've learned that it's not me, it's the clothes. Whoever designed women's underwear to end at the fattest part of the hips? I wear a full brief that comes to the waist and they're so comfortable. High waisted trousers are back in fashion and won't give you the muffin top and are also very flattering, especially in a nice wide leg style. You don't feel that you have to keep pulling them up!

[@loftyradish6972]

@@linpollitt8950 I love full brief knickers, so freaking comfortable. I find them really flattering too, for the exact reason you stated. I actually just finished a high waisted full circle skirt in dusky rose pink and added lace to the hem and waistband. It is so flattering to my figure, I love it. I'm working on a matching blouse now.

[@linpollitt8950]

@@loftyradish6972 That sounds lovely and very vintage. I find 1940s and 50s styles very flattering.

[@Noel.Chmielowiec]

Recently I decluttered my wardrobe from everything that no longer fits. My mum said 'so, will you buy new clothes? Now you have space' and I said 'no. I'm gonna make them'. My favourite skirts are the ones I made myself and are adjustable. If something doesn't fit anymore I can fix it if I made it. I take meds that made me gain a lot of weight. I feel the best in midi adaptations of 1890s walking skirts. I want to sew myself summer dress and 'coquelicot' skirt. I also have wide hips and thighs and no trousers fit me. So I prefer to wear skirts. It really important to wear what makes YOU happy, not other people. Because, all in all, you are with your thoughts for the whole life. Others change and go.

[@farangarris2598]

I wear my era of clothing because for me it is practical, I can work in them on my small homestead,go to town when I need, church too. Glad you did this video.❤

[@adalaidearmes6790]

I really never was on trend with anything for my teens and early 20s but always felt like we had to buy into it. I was a few years behind on the skinny jean trend and never really figured out why I didn't like them. Thanks to pandemic and social media I learned about historical clothing and fast fashion and fabrics and so much. It's one of my favorite hobbies now to keep learning. But thanks to it I finally got to connect with the fashion of the historical women I always looked up to. It also has been a transition because I feel like I still need to dress down around people sometime. I feel comfortable in dresses and more "dressed up" but have friends that haven't found their comfort yet in their bodies and sometimes judge me. I also have been looking very closing at measurements and sizing up in my clothing purchases so that I can more likely keep them forever. I love the clothes I buy now and spend a lot of time deciding on if it is something actually useful. Ideally I'll start to seew my own clothes one day but I'm starting small with dog blankets 😅 Thank you for the wonderful videos and your wise thoughts on this one especially! 😊

[@melissel5648]

The message of this video is SO powerful and truly touched my little animist heart when you talked about connecting with our clothes and those who made them 🖤

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you Mélisse ❤️

[@BittersweetMayhem]

Thank you for sharing. The compulsion to fit in came from wanting people to enjoy my company, to make other people at ease, to feel useful just making people happy

[@raeb5525]

My love for fashion and and fashion history has lead to the deep feeling of connection to my sisters around the globe! Working with fibers is an ancient practice worldwide, it’s sacred way of celebrating life’s seasons.

[@VBirchwood]

So true!! ❤️ beautifully put. Every time I work with my hands and with textiles, I can feel myself being held by all the powerful women who came before me. In fact, whilst reconstructing Kazan Tatar fashion recently, I’ve started crying on a number of occasions because I’ve felt so immensely held by my Tatar ancestors and the image of them in my mind working with the same shapes and tools is such a powerful feeling.

[@noblethoughts4500]

​@@VBirchwood it touched my heart to read of how you are moved through this work. I look forward to feeling that very same way with regards to my Irish ancestry. I have been longing for your video about making Irish clothing from you as I have no idea how to start. Perhaps I have missed it or missed news of it? Thank you for all that you are and all that you bring. ❤️

[@noblethoughts4500]

I love how you phrased this. It has great meaning for me.

[@VBirchwood]

@@noblethoughts4500 thank you ❤️ the video will be out in May!

[@noblethoughts4500]

@@VBirchwood thank you so much for letting me know! I am looking forward to it very much (together with anything else you put up!).

[@zuffin1864]

I am a man, and I feel like most of my wardrobe reflects what I like, but I definitely feel tired of getting an outfit together in the first place. Everyday I see the joke of a closet with the same outfit 10+ times more reasonable!🤣 I think the biggest beauty standard I dealt with is early baldness. My hair started to recede and not really fall out but more like, if a little fell out like normal, it wasn't coming back. this started when I was 17. I do some hair treatments to keep what I have but I am at the point where I don't really care because I think my face looks great and hair isn't too important to me anymore. I have thought about wearing a toupe, and I wouldn't care about telling people I am wearing it, but it would literally make more people say things about my head than if i didn't wear one, even if it were high quality and real looking. less people say anything about baldness if you show them the bald than if you hide it, which makes no sense because now we are stressing people to get medical treatments that are potentially worse for their health.

[@johannageisel5390]

Well, do a 17th century and wear an enormous wig! :D JK. Btw. wearing the same outfit every day is what people did for centuries, if they didn't have much money. Like in the Victorian times, when some dressed would come with one petticoat and two bodices (one for day, one for evening), because people would own only very few dresses, so you needed to get the most of it. Men also didn't own a shitload of suits. Probably one for weekdays and one good one for Sundays and all other formal occassions.

[@pheart2381]

As a female a man's hair is one of the last things I notice. I am more likely to notice their general demeanour,or whether they look friendly. All those perriwigged gents were shaved bald under the wigs!

[@kjtherrick4031]

You seem so strong within yourself that it is surprising to learn you've struggled. Glad you've overcome! I greatly enjoy that the fashion you find most comfortable also brings history to life.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you! I’ve struggled immensely, and still often do to this day. I experience very severe ocd and c-PTSD for example, and I deal with the physical effects of that on my body every single day. I really think though it is due to therapy and my continued commitment to my healing that I’ve gotten to a more stable place now in my life, but it really only became quite recently stable. It’s part of why I’m such a massive advocate for mental health awareness.

[@smp6441]

I wish more people would realize how much better they’d look and feel if they wore longer skirts instead of shorts when they’re over 50. Its more comfortable thanks to elastic waists and cooler. I got rid of all denim and cotton t-shirts. Natural products like linen, silk and wool is what I wear and I only shop secondhand. eBay helps a lot.

[@rhiannonthegrey17]

What a beautiful message. I know you said it wasn't your intention to convert, but watching your videos has been giving me the confidence to start transitioning to a more historical (more bounding, to be honest) wardrobe and I've never felt more comfortable in my clothes. Just wanted to say thank you for that ❤

[@VBirchwood]

This is so kind, thank you! Your comment made me tear up 🥹

[@CherriesJubilee]

Oh my goodness this actually made me cry in a good way, with relief. So many of my students, and friends struggle with body image and clothing. I have always felt much more comfortable in historical garb and when I discovered how undergarments and padding worked, It changed my whole idea of how to wear almost everything. Thank you so much for this.

[@VBirchwood]

I feel very honoured Cherries Jubilee, thank you!

[@SepulvedaBoulevard]

I applaud your clarity and confidence in your journey. I have made similar discoveries and today embrace an ethic of simplicity in two dimensions: a work uniform consisting of jeans and a telnyashka, and a public uniform of jeans and a white dress shirt - with a bowtie for Quaker meeting. And if the fashion industry sees me as an inadequate consumer, I can but smile to myself. Peace be with you!

[@Lillyjanelavender]

This is a beautiful video, with a beautiful, wonderful, compassionate sentiment. Thank you so much.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much Lillyjane 💕🌸

[@fey_wolf6309]

tbh, the way in which commercial fast fashion works has recently made me turn 180 toward thrifting and trying to make my own clothing. It's mostly about lack of compassion, yes, but also about quality\longevity of the clothing piece I own. It feels like we're not meant to get personal with the garments we own - they come in weird sizes or shapes, they don't serve us for long and are not really meant for mending 'cuz they're made of worse materials which don't really hold up. On the other hand, creating a new piece of clothing or altering an existing one gives you a particular feeling... idk, like getting a voice? Not mentioning that even if it's one of the first garments you've ever made and it's faulty and newbie-ish, it still holds better and serves for much longer than an average fast fashion garment.

[@dakotatwilight]

It was lovely listening to you today. Thank you for sharing yourself with us. I have always been dressed differently even as a child. Because I was smaller than most children in my class, my mom had most of my dresses either sewn from patterns or sometimes store bought ones altered to fit. I loved my seamstress she always made growth tucks in my clothes. I got to pick the patterns out and definitely loved the styles of the 40s and 50s best. By the time I became a teen I taught myself to sew and started sewing to my own drum. I sewed several 1850-60 dresses. and wore them to school including my aunties petticoats from the 50s she gave me. Though I flirted with bought clothing as a mid teen I then discovered ethnic clothing of India and had friends teach me to sew them... I haven't followed fashion since... I will sometimes buy clothing for the fabric from the thriftstore or just fabric itself, or from smaller fabric stores online as I only wear natural fibers, but when I sew definitely vintage or antique styles and/or ethnic. I also love Kimono. Compassion I agree is something that would change much in the whole textile industry. I practice Shinto and being mindful of thanking all who produce/create/grow the things we use wether food, household or clothing is also a part of that. So understand.

[@Khensani]

absolutely love this! i think a lot of our consumption habits (or addictions) stem from this external idea that our bodies need a kind of fixing and fast fashion only offers a temporary satisfaction of that until the next trend cycle reminds us that our bodies are still bad. it doesn't haven't to be historical or vintage fashion for everyone, but there's value in stepping back and thinking about your preferences and tastes and making the effort to find what you like, even/especially if it's outside of the mainstream.

[@katwitanruna]

Excellent! I only wear natural fabric with a mix of modern and historical.

[@katwitanruna]

@@classicG342 Many years ago, my exsquared went into Krogers (grocery store) wearing a neon green flannel sixth century long tunic with a black cloak and hood. A man told his son “Look son! There’s a monk!” When he told me I burst out laughing.

[@karinkeeble1993]

Thank you so much for your clearly expressed thoughts. You are truly inspiring and indeed full of compassion.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much Karin ❤

[@farangarris2598]

I love how you explain fashon, the reality of it. I love your style. It makes me happy to see you express your self. My style is also historical. It makes me happy. 1910 to 1920. Iagree with you. Hugs. Have a good day.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you Faran!

[@lilykatmoon4508]

I really love your compassionate nature. I also really appreciate that you support people expressing themselves however makes them happy, and not harmful to themselves or others. Your channel and content are wonderful. Take care.

[@kirbycairo]

Thank you for your honest and personal statement. Much of it rang very true for me, especially having raised two daughters in a fast fashion world.

[@catherinejustcatherine1778]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, philosophies and practices. I am always glad to see how much you genuinely care about your content; and, I appreciate the work you put into your videos!

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much Catherine! I care about it so much. ❤️ I appreciate you recognising that.

[@catherinejustcatherine1778]

@@VBirchwood thank you! I especially appreciated the message at the end of this video 🌻💗🌟🌞

[@northerlyartemis]

I loved this video and can relate to it a lot. I have changed to wearing historical inspired clothing and only buying from small businesses. Due to early menopause I have gone from being very thin (a body shape valued by society) to much curvier and felt like a failure and ‘not beautiful’. Modern clothing-despite the size in the label-is not designed for the curves of a bigger woman’s body. With historically inspired clothing I am loving my body again and feeling beautiful just as I am.

[@catinglasses]

I've been teaching myself to sew clothes over the past several years, very slowly, and it is just as liberating as you say and has helped so much with my self image. I really appreciate everything you brought up in this video and am so inspired by your mentality and approach. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

[@ZiggyWhiskerz]

Societal expectations and push to fit in was WORSE in the past. But damn do I love fashion history.

[@RevelwithaCause]

I attended an Easter Vigil last night. Held a mini beeswax candle for about 3 hours! Traditional Catholic monastery and so surprising there were a lot of kids and babies at a service that ended just short of midnight! You are right that what we wear matters... Looking around at church, I notice that people actually put EFFORT into looking nice. Yes it is to honor God, but it also adds so much to our humanity too!!

[@wizkidgamer9942]

I love the Easter Vigil It's my favorite Mass of the Year. So powerful and sanctifying. And it's interesting because being Catholic and wanting to look nice at church is one of the main reasons why I've been trying to get away from t shirts and jeans and explore nicer casual clothing. It feels good to look good, and even if it's not up to conventional standards so long as it suits you and fits you people shouldn't worry about going along with the crowd so much

[@JamesBond-qd5rc]

I attend the catholic Latin Mass. I've started dressing better and to wear vintage and edwardian style as a man. I believe dressing modestly is a way to honor God in my life.

[@DoingStuffWithDiana]

It’s crazy to me that we could all be wearing POTATO SACKS if we wanted to, but instead humans have figured out how to make the clothes we put on our bodies more prettier or custom to our tastes. Or to feel soft against our skin, or to look amazing at a ball. Idk why that thought is so amazing to me. I’ve gotten hand me downs that I see are fast fashion, and I like to think others are now doing the same with the more longer lasting pieces. I constantly have anxiety over the earth dying 😩 lol so I like to think me using some pieces from fast fashion as hand me downs and sewing my wardrobes from now on will make some type of minuscule difference 🥺 Thanks for making this video! I always love your work and am always telling people IRL about “the lady on KZbin WHO SEWS HISTORICAL CLOTHING BY HAND BRO” 😂 (You’re forever my hero for that last bit 🤣)

[@gravygraves5112]

We even customized our wearable potato sacks! Tunics were just 2 squares of cloth sewn together like a sack but with holes for your limbs and head and people in antiquity would get them in all sorts of colors with patterns and made out of different fabrics and then bundle or tie them in different manners to define a shape of sorts. They'd also accent them with bits of jewelry and different styles of belt. The more things change the more they stay the same!

[@lnorlnor]

One thing I've been working on a lot lately is how to style and remake fast fashion to be more forgiving of size fluctuation, for me currently that means a lot of pinafore dresses over tops that are too small to wear with jeans, for example.

[@VBirchwood]

Love this 😊

[@raquelnunes9793]

What i have been working on myself is telling me itis the clothes that dont work for my body if i dont like it, not that my body doesnt work for the garment. Clothes fit us not the other way around. So i might get a size bigger to accommodate me and then ill alter it to fit me as i like. I do unfortunately still use shopping as a coping mechanism but while working on it i try to buy mostly 2nd hand stuff. Ive also been looking at my wardrobe as a fashion collection so one day i might be my trad gothy self, the following i go more romantic, go for a more baroque look the next., etc.

[@VBirchwood]

I love that mindset with clothes!

[@firesideclassics]

Thank you Vasi, for putting so beautifully and compassionately into words the feeling that I think many of us who appreciate vintage/historical fashion and beauty feel inside, but is sometimes hard to express in an eloquent and non judgmental way. I too love the fact that in days of old you were given resources to "fit" the fashionable image, in the form of undergarments and padding, without usually having so much pressure to "alter" your body into that shape permanently. The concept of a much more human idea of "fashion" is I think so important, because human bodies (making a generalization here, but I would say especially female bodies) are constantly changing, through phases of life and health, and it can be so hard to deal with the way that impacts on your external appearance. I gained a lot of weight due to health issues some time ago, thankfully I have once again lost a lot of it and I am at a place I feel more healthy and attractive again, but now I have the trouble that I have all these baggy clothes! :P I will be adjusting some, parting with others, but mostly I plan to begin making myself a vintage style wardrobe that is much more forgiving to my body, and will hopefully accommodate any future fluctuations I may have with my body more forgivingly. I personally really enjoy the 1940s-1960s vintage aesthetic myself, but I also appreciate and have a great deal of interest in more historical styles, like you wear so beautifully. I am so glad that you have made progress over the years with your own body image challenges, and as one random lady on the internet to another, I think you are very beautiful, and you look wonderful in your lovely wrappers and dresses and clothing that you wear and have made. You are an inspiration, and we are all lucky to be able to share a little bit of your life and perspective.

[@hollyerin897]

One of the best videos I have seen in a while, V. Thank you for sharing!

[@carolinemaluca]

I love hearing your opinion on this! I haven’t bought new clothes since 2018. I agree with you on the environmental problem that there is with fast fashion plus I don’t like modern fashion. To me the great majority is ugly, except for some. I wish I had a whole wardrobe of Victorian antiques and reproductions. Maybe one day! I still have hope. 💚

[@ragnkja]

The current fashion really doesn’t suit my tastes either, and it makes me far less interested in buying it.

[@auricia201]

Same! I haven't bought clothes since 2019. Lockdown helped 😁 the goal is to "purge" the closet and only buy good quality, good fit, well thought out clothes that I like and go well with each other.

[@VBirchwood]

Thanks so much Caroline! ❤

[@karoliinalehtinen6701]

I relate to this so much. Learning to sew my own clothing and getting into historical fashion has helped me disconnect from the pressures of modern fashion and beauty standards. Lately I've been researching the history and current state of fashion industry and it's such a mess and very much a daunting problem to solve. Especially with the fashion industry that's so massive and powerful, the "vote with your wallet" does literally nothing. Changing the industry needs structural change. One of the biggest and hardest things that needs to be done to make the fashion industry better is to dismantle colonialism. The fashion industry was initially built on it and it still is very much tied to it. Modern colonialism exploits cheep labour in poor countries, transfers profits to rich countries and floods the market with their cheep products killing any local industry, so the people stay poor and easily exploited. It's not just fast fashion that engages in this, though they are the most blatant and extreme about it, it's the whole industry, even most brands that are supposedly ethical and sustainable. And it's not like we who sew our clothing ourselves can fully escape it either, since most fabric production also engages in this colonialism. Dismantling colonialism as a whole is not easy and won't happen overnight (probably not in any of our life time if we're being realistic), but it absolutely should be everyone's long term political goal. What everyone in rich countries, who benefit from colonialism, could do now, is to support legislation that regulates the fashion industry. US being the biggest economic global power of course has the most power in this, but for example EU regulations (I'm mentioning this because it's relevant to me as I live in a EU country) also have a global effect as it is globally significant market and international companies would not want to loose that market, so they would have to at least partially comply. Regulation can only get us so far, but the fashion industry is really poorly regulated so it's a good place to start. Currently (at least in EU) the companies only have to disclose the content of the materials used and the production country, but any transparency about the sourcing of the materials and the production chain is fully optional. I think it would be super important to force every clothing company to release their chain of production and sources of their materials as well as data of their energy usage and other environmental effects. Currently the study about the environmental effects and working conditions of the fashion industry is very lacking since the industry is allowed to be so secretive. Many of the big players especially tend to only give their data to pro-industry organizations who produce very biased and manipulative studies and rating systems meant obscure the true effects of the industry from the public. This would also make upholding any further and current regulations easier. Current regulations about slavery and child labour are basically impossible to uphold as the burden of information gathering is on the enforcers. Some other regulations that I think would be beneficial are limiting the usage of plastic (I admit it's hard to legislate since ban on all plastic use would not be helpful but I think it's really important to find a way to limit it's use in the fashion industry) and outright ban textiles that have fibres made in the viscose method (I like rayon and viscose, but viscose method is super toxic and causes really bad health and environmental issues to the areas it's produced in, and there's non-toxic methods to do rayon now). Other things that could be done with local politics everywhere is to support small local textile producers and local craftmanship with governmental money, so they could become at least somewhat competitive with the international companies that produce abroad and also take their profits (and tax money) abroad. Even when done in rich countries it would eventually have positive effect on those exploited by colonialism, as rich countries would become less reliant on the exploitation of their labour. A longer term harder goal that I think would be really important to not just when it comes to the fashion industry, but much more broadly too, would be to eliminate tax heavens. This would need international political action and all powerful international companies that most benefit from them would resist this in any way they can, so it would be hard to implement. I know literally nothing about corporate law and accounting, but I know that the way these corporations avoid taxes and then dominate over local and small businesses, is by transferring profits and losses between subsidiaries and parent companies, which is somehow legal. If that was made illegal, we could mostly eliminate tax heavens without having to try to enforce international laws on every tax heaven, which would be hard and imo a bit questionable. There has been talk about international minimum tax rate as a solution for tax heavens, which I think is a step in right direction, but I think it would be really easy to get around. While I don't think any individual action can really change anything in the fashion industry, I think there are ways we can have positive impact with our individual actions. The first step I think is to get away from the mindset that your consumption habits can ever have any positive impact on the environment. Whatever you buy, even if it's something immaterial thing like an e-book or service like getting a massage, it will in one way or another cause an environmental effect even if by only supporting the system that's destroying the world (as an extreme example, buying an e-book, but from Amazon). Everything else is green-washing corporate propaganda. This does not mean we should never buy anything, that's literally impossible, just that we should never conflate consumption with environmental action. While I broadly encourage anyone to limit their consumption, even that doesn't have positive environmental effect. Not doing something is neutral, so it can't have positive effect and it alone can't really change anything. I think it good to be mindful of your buying habits, but since this has such non-impact on the whole system, I don't think it's more important anyone's happiness or comfort. You can have much better impact if you put your energy into political action not scrutinizing your buying habits. One thing anyone can do though, is to buy from local producers and artisans. While it won't fix the industry, I think for future of clothing production I think it's important to preserve craftsmanship skills and local production, which the industry is killing.

[@doris_1325]

The way you think ❤ it's wonderful and I want to be more mindful of what I wear. I want to create clothes for myself. I'm getting ready.

[@VBirchwood]

You’ve got this ❤️

[@threadsandpurrs]

Thank you so much for this video. I appreciate your message of compassion and love of slower fashion. It's something I would like to work towards myself. I also love that historical clothes as well as some other alternative fashions are more forgiving of changing bodies.

[@VBirchwood]

Thanks so much Stephanie! What would be your dream wardrobe?

[@threadsandpurrs]

@V. Birchwood Most of the things I've made are medieval or Renaissance or mid century retro inspired. I've also made lolita and mori kei dresses. I'd like to make an edwardian walking suit eventually as well. I know that I prefer natural fibers and either earth tones or cooler colors for the most part. I've also made some accessories, including some jewelry.

[@beckstheimpatient4135]

I pressed Play on this video as I was getting ready for my day. As you started telling your story, I took of my PJs and put on my chemise. I laced up my fancy kirtle as you told us about Karolina's video (which I've also watched!). I just put on my woolen overdress - it's cold outside today. I'm planning on going out to downtown Bucharest to see an expo by upcoming Romanian fashion designers, maybe meet with a friend. And I will do so wearing linen and wool that I've stitched myself into an outfit worthy of a middle class 13th century woman. I am comfortable, and warm, and can face the world as I am.

[@fikanera838]

You are so brave & thoughtful. I'm having a rotten time at the moment, & it's so encouraging to know that there are other people who share my ideas.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much Fi! Sending lots of love your way and I hope that things improve soon!

[@Audunforgard]

Thrift, flea, vintage hand me downs and gifts... That been the vast majority of my wardrobe to this day... And I appreciate finding cool unique pieces. Standing out today is easier than ever

[@kobaltkween]

I've recently come down to a weight I haven't been in more than a decade (through better health and lifestyle, yay!). Clothing fit issues I thought I'd just become less sensitive to have returned with a vengeance as weight loss is changing my proportions (I know, it's not supposed to, but it is). Since I follow so many sewing content creators, I now know that pants that fit absolutely shouldn't gap in the back of my waist, let alone by 2 inches or more. So much is just off. Off the rack clothes and my body are on two very different pages. That's even if I don't consider my chest, which been down to a DDD cup since my teens. In my youth, I just accepted it as my body not fitting the clothes. In my teens, shopping was often emotional, to the point I'd end up crying in dressing rooms. A few years ago, I was drawn to the idea of sewing to actually having clothes that fit, but that never would have happened if I hadn't encountered the concept of body positivity. Now I want everything in my life to fit me, not the other way around. I realize it would never happen, but one big way to change things would need two steps. One, large scale support of sustainable fabric production. Two, teach clothing making (and other useful skills) from first to twelfth grade, along with standard academic subjects and arts. I say clothing making rather than sewing, because it should include making things from scratch, without patterns, and include dying and coloring. Assuming we actually funded public schools, had class sizes no larger than 12, and funded them nationally instead of locally, we could definitely teach a lot more than we do. Especially if we changed the school day to fit the work day, and got rid of all busywork and practice homework, and only used homework for individual project work. With a large scale sewing instruction plan, the government would need fabric in huge volume, so then it could drive sustainable fabric production with its purchases, the way McDonald's drives the potato industry. And then not only would average clothing become more individualized in terms of fit, but buying clothing would be more like buying a meal rather than making it. Something you did for special things, not t-shirts made in minutes. People wouldn't be so blind to what goes into their clothes, or talk about something as "handmade" as if machines made their t-shirts instead of exploited workers. And large clothing corporations would have more competition from local creators.

[@WolfLykaios]

If we want to change the world, we can start by mending our clothes and normalize fixing our own buttons, tears, holes, etc., instead of it being stigmatized and a mark of poverty, it can be just an everyday thing. Additionally, when you buy clothes, buy good fabrics, one of the characteristics of Fast Fashion is that it breaks easily and in a year or so it often needs to be replaced, thus costing you far more money as the years go on, than it would have otherwise.

[@juliekish5539]

Thank you for so articulately speaking the beliefs that I have had in my heart for years. I do not follow fashion trends. I wear the items that feel right for me. I love to sew but I don’t make my own clothes any more. I take ready-made items and alter them so they feel right for me. I love your channel.

[@mariebray9831]

The earth is hurting from all the chemicals used to make yarn and clothes and by the tons of clothes being dumped some not even worn once and discarded as they are last month's "fashion".

[@manaspajamas5071]

Thank you for this video, especially your words at the end, it brought me to tears. You definitely put quite some thought and care into this, and I so appreciate this short and sweet video. I've always been one that went against the grain when it came to fashion, I was even bullied for it as a child and in high school. But that never stopped my desire for simple and practical, yet beautiful, elegant and even sophisticated clothes which I would end up finding in thrift stores (which was all my family could afford as a young girl). I struggled with making my own clothes (my mom's teaching style clashed with my learning needs, unbeknownst to us at the time), but didn't ever feel the need to since whenever my mom bought me something, I would wear it for years and years afterward. In fact, to this day, I still have clothes I've been wearing since high school, which has been over a decade ago (except now I think it's time for a new wardrobe, since most of them are getting quite worn). What I'd like to do is work on pieces more from the Middle Ages. As much as I truly love and appreciate the Tutor, Victorian, Edwardian, and even more modern eras, nothing else has truly spoken to me as much as the one timeline we know the least about. Granted, I'm obsessed with the Pre-Tutor Medieval gowns, my mom even made me one for my wedding, but the 500-800 European period frocks really speak to me for every day wear. If anyone has any suggestions and/or can point me in the direction of creators who work with clothes from that time period, that would be stupendous, considering how rare it is to even find articles of clothing from that era. Again, thank you for your video, I guess I didn't realize how much I needed to hear from someone I admire, like you, tell me that I am still worthy and my body is beautiful and perfect the way it is. I've never been morbidly obese, but I've always been slightly overweight, and only recently got up to slightly obese a couple of years before the pandemic, and it's been a challenge to not hate myself or my body as a result of not finding cute clothes that speak to me in my size (hence the reason I've kept most of my clothes from years ago). So once again, thank you for being so kind, you are doing a superb job with your goal of having and being more compassionate in your life, I certainly felt that watching this. Keep being and doing you because you, too, are enough and worthy!

[@cartoonygothica]

That was quite touching, and you brought up valid points. In my elementary school years, I used to believe that as a girl, I had to dress feminine all the time. I like having long hair and wearing skirts and dresses and cute hair accessories, but I also prefer wearing sneakers and leggings. I didn't care much for makeup or hair products. I also prefer to dress modestly and in layers, regardless of the season. I hate being limited by beauty standards and gender norms. My childhood friend tried to give me a makeover to get me to become more like other girls, but I resisted, and our friendship ended when we were in seventh grade. It was in my teen years that I decided to "go goth" in a casual sort of way, and it pretty much stuck ever since. Admittedly, I'm still insecure about my gender expression sometimes, because of how my childhood friend used to treat me and the way most girls tend to be portrayed in media. But I can safely say that I've found a style that more or less fits who I am. I never cared about fashion trends. When I get clothes, I have to make sure I'm getting only the stuff that I will actually wear over and over again. When it comes to clothing sustainability, I feel like we need to normalize repairing and recycling clothes. While I donate wearable clothes to Goodwill, I am now sending my not-so-wearable stuff to a clothing recycling company. Even if an item can't be worn as originally intended, surely it can be repurposed if it's still clean?

[@lucylongsocks2835]

I'm enjoying how you think. You also have a very calming voice. I've been thinking lately about how to make my clothes last my life out, and I'm starting to be very curious about how historical clothing adapts to changing bodies. Thank you for the encouragement to keep thinkng about it.

[@kristleking6632]

watching you and so many others in the historical fashion world made me start thinkig more about my clothing. im like modern and vintage fashion both and always have; buying 2nd hand was taboo where i grew up; you were "a poor kid" if you got 2nd hand clothes so i went straight to fast fashion as a teen. as i grew up, i noticed the constant change in seasonal fashion and thought it was insane! i just bought this, and now its "so last year" so i stopped caring. i moved away and found my own personal fashion. the waste of the fashion industry boggles me the most, so i switched to ONLY buying 2nd hand and thrift. i now only buy new socks, underwear and bras. everything else i purchase is previously owned. there is MORE then enough clothes in the world for us all, so about 8 years ago, i vowed to no purchase new clothing anymore. if there is something I see in a modern department store of clothing store; ill go find something similar 2nd hand. no daily fashion seems to actually be NEW, but rather reworked from previous decades; i really started noticing when 90's and '00 fashion was showing up again. its my way of adding a little less waste from clothing to the world, and not supporting the slave labor used to make fast fashion garments

[@billthomas8205]

Thank you for your compassionate wisdom. I echo the liberation to be found in wearing what makes one happy rather than conforming.

[@watsonmelon6575]

Thank you for being vulnerable and open about this important topic. I'm glad that things have gotten better for you and it's nice to have hope about things getting better for others as well. 💛

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much Watson Melon! I think people underestimate the transformational power of a very skilled therapist. I am so grateful for mine. I also recognise though that therapy is made very inaccessible (and tragically so) so I feel blessed to be able to save up enough to work with her.

[@Zzrik]

Fashion nowadays is just who can come up with the most weird or bizarre stuff,I always thought that the fashion that people wore during the 1920-30's was really nice and stylish. There are times where I see people who have their pants down to their knees and proudly showing off their underwear, this sort of " fashion" really makes me wonder where the heck did we just decide not to care anymore about looking decent.

[@KathrynWoodcock-p7q]

Thank you so much, Vasi, for such a thoughtful video. Those of us who sew have a wonderful gift that we can give ourselves in expressing our creativity and, through fit and design choices, we also develop a deep connection with our bodies as they are and as we would like to present them to the world. I would encourage those who sew to be generous in teaching those skills to others who are interested, which will, I think, start to change minds and attitudes, at least on a small scale.

[@VBirchwood]

Thanks so much Kathryn! Really glad you enjoyed the video ☺️

[@MichelleMaples-l8y]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. They’re very comforting and supportive to someone trying to work up the courage to flout the uncomfortable norms.

[@VickiLovell-g5f]

I just found you and so glad I did. I have a degree in Fashion. I love your honesty. You speak the truth about fast fashion. So many people are afraid to go against the grain. You are a breath of fresh air. Keep up the good work. You are right fashion is so individual and we should treat it that way.

[@annerigby4400]

I found this video very interesting and I agree with your viewpoint. Growing up, I think it is safe to say that I was somewhat unaware of 'fashion'. As a kid, I wrecked all of my clothes because I climbed a lot. My mother had a very definite idea of what her little girl was supposed to look like and behave like and I definitely fitted neither image. I went from too young to understand there was such a thing as image, but knew my mother had a problem, to being old enough to understand and totally disagree. My poor mother! As a teenager, I very early started embroidering everything, including my brother's t-shirts, and making clothes out of what I already had - jeans into a skirt (I never wore... just didn't wear skirts) and a bag, for instance. And most of the time, I just wore jeans and a t-shirt - easy, simple, comfortable, no need for ironing. Or in moments of finding stuff, I went to work in a kung-fu outfit, or a fabulous Indian dress, etc. It had to be something that I had seen that really struck me. This brings me to a person I know who is no longer in their twenties. They are not old, just older. As a younger person, they followed fashion very closely, bought the latest and cheapest (since they would only be wearing it once or twice), shopped weekly, etc. Now that they are older (and I repeat, they are not old, just not in their twenties), they have been running into the problem that their body has changed, but the fashion items they normally bought have stayed for the body of their twenties. It is causing a sort of identity crisis and a lot of turmoil and upset. I think it is very difficult for many people to adapt to the reality of their own bodies and that is terrible. We have one body and we need to care for it and take care of it and most important, accept it. It is the one thing we truly own. So, having described two extremes of attitude towards 'fashion', I think what you say in your video applies to all, regardless of style. As a teen, I believed I was possibly overweight (I was not, I've seen pictures, hahaha), that my body proportions were all wrong for a girl (think Twiggy from the 70's or Jane Birkin) and I was taller than all of the kids in my classes until about 14yo. These are all 'problems' teens and young adults have in some form or other but the fashion trends of the 20th and 21st centuries just make these into real problems not simply the growing phase of adolescence. I hope videos like yours and those of so many other historical costume/clothing creators will help many people re-think their body image in terms of its beauty regardless of what the 'norms' of the day are. I think re-introducing the idea of shaping the silhouette rather than the actual body is a winner. If only someone could manage to make it into a trend that takes off. I don't like shopping, but I do like walking around shops, and have decided to make my own clothes - I'm a painter, not a sewist, so it has been an interesting exercise that seems to have more to do with engineering than with sewing. There is a big difference between making something into something else and starting from a flat piece of fabric. Not everyone can or wants to make clothes and as you said, not everyone can buy more expensive, locally made or ethically-made clothes, but if those who can, do, then we're on the winning trend.

[@piccalillipit9211]

*I MAKE BESPOKE HISTORICAL MENSWARE 1900 - 1930* I don't have a website or Instagram, as I get absolutely swamped with requests. People are definitely becoming more aware of their clothes - more than just the fashion of them, aware of the materials, sustainability, ethics, investment et cetera. The one thing, I wish people would realise, and this was personified in your makeover, historical clothes are more comfortable than modern clothes, not the other way round.

[@rhythmandblues_alibi]

I find myself getting the majority of my clothing from an ethical Australian (local to me) company that pays a living wage to the people in Bangladesh who cut and sew the clothing. It's bright and colourful and comfortable, all things I love. I don't buy a lot of clothes, and being a student, I tend to wait for sales so I can afford it. When I do buy a cheap "fast fashion" item, I tend to wear it for years and years rather than tossing it after a "micro season" the way the corporations would like us to. ETA: I think the way we live constantly online these days really pushes us to think our looks are inadequate. The best antidote to thus is to just go outside, to the shops where you are surrounded by average looking people rather than the perfect people of instagram et al. There is nothing wrong with looking average. It's the norm for most people! We are so much more than what we look like 💖

[@starofgalaxies]

I always worry that I come across snobbish when I'm gushing about my historical and vintage garments because the truth is I feel confident and want to share so someone else may try and find a new confidence as well. I love that most of these clothing hide my endo belly because while I understand that this is just a part of endometriosis and not harmful, it hurts my ego a bit when strangers assume I'm pregnant because modern tops tend to cling, modern pants are low, and I don't help by slouching so I don't blame them.

[@moxiebombshell]

You continue to amaze me with every video of yours I watch. You are an excellent messenger, and you radiate centeredness and an authentic sense of self. Your calm, still way of speaking truth to power is energizing and empowering. Thank you, *so* much 💗

[@garysmith3173]

What beautiful,eloquent monologue. Thank you.

[@karlahovde]

What a beautiful and eloquent video! Thanks for sharing this important message with your audience.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much Karla! 💕

[@MossyMozart]

Ms V. Birchwood is always so sweet, relaxed, insightful, and compassionate that I am not surprised to learn that she practices Buddhism. One does not need to embrace it as a religion because we can look at it instead as a philosophy. There is a lovely little book that addresses this topic called "Buddhism Without Beliefs".

[@SD-os2ym]

Thank you for making this video. Thanks for sharing your struggles with this. ❤

[@esm1817]

This video makes me want to sew a Victorian wrapper. I won't lie, it probably will not happen. But they sound amazing. Then I could whoosh around the house to dramatically do my chores and feel ❤epic❤. Sounds so awesome. EDIT: I would also like to do this because my foremothers were English/American and would have been rocking the wrapper look while momming much of the time.

[@davidowens1675]

I stumbled on your videos just last night after watching a very distinguished gentleman who is the producer and creator of " Modern History" ... his videos are absolutely wonderful ... the theme is medieval knighthood ... following his videos was your medieval dinning for a week ... I do in fact have clothing from past time periods from the vikings to the American War Between the States ... I am amazed at the freedom of movement afforded when wearing these outfits .... my civil war uniform is so unrestricted! I can mount a horse more easily than when wearing modern 'cowboy' jeans and western shirts ... my stomach is freed from that constant constriction that is so prevalent with wearing almost all modern apparel... my linen Bagpiping shirt is a delight to wear whose type and design seems to have stayed consistent from medieval times to the late 1800' s ( that should really tell us something) ... I see the need for cover, comfort, full range of bodily motion and durability ( I've used only three shirts for 15 years in hard conditions of simulated combat . I wash one and then line dry ... then immediately ready to bagpipe graveside funeral services and even wear one clean' as a nightshirt) ... though more of a perspective from the feminine side your philosophical aspect is universal...... great videos !

[@mirisoji8406]

I would love tto see a breakdown of garments that can fluctuate with weight! You are so right about modern clothing and the fabric it's made of is just terrible! Falling apart after a few washes, such a waste of money!

[@sunflowervibes3041]

I’m just the last year or two I’ve started to look past what’s new and trendy. It felt very suffocating to try to fit in and keep up. I think I understand now that I was just trying to make up for not being able to buy the “right” clothes when I was a kid. I’m now exploring well made linen dresses that I truly love even though I really look out of place in Target haha. I’m very excited because I’m very close to finishing my first ever hand sewn garment which is a petticoat to wear under my dresses! It’s a big shift for me to be excited to wear a petticoat when it’s not “fashionable” but I feel a strange amount of peace about it :)

[@schrodingerssquirrel6973]

I buy 95% of my raiment at charity/thrift shops. I buy men's clothing many times as it is comfortable, Utilitarian, And sturdy. It keeps the clothing out of the landfills. I would not go in for surgery for any but life threatening circumstances. My body is a vehicle to move my consciousness from one experience to another. Nothing more. That said, I love watching your videos for their historical perspective. I respect your work.

[@jasminak7342]

I love this video! I have personally always had a hard time connecting to my body, & for most of my life felt it was nothing more than a vehicle for my conscience. When I was younger I cycled through many different styles trying to find The One that would finally feel right. I went through a phase where I mostly wore 18th century style dresses made from costume patterns; a Japanese Decora phase; a Classic Lolita phase; a Natural Kei phase, etc... But I was never able to find something that didn't feel, as you said, like a costume to me because I felt that my body in itself was a costume that my mind was wearing. I have only started feeling more connected to my body in the past few years since deciding to take up aerial dance, & learning to be more appreciative of what my body is capable of. Since then, I have come to realize that I feel happiest wearing preowned, preloved clothing that comes with a history behind it. It makes me feel more connected to the world & to other people to know that I am touching the same fabric that once brushed the skin of another, wholly complete person, with their own dreams and struggles and ideas. My style is now wildly inconsistent as I no longer pressure myself to purchase things that fit into one particular aesthetic (I enjoy everything from 1930's vintage all the way up to contemporary fashion castoffs at the thrift store), but the one consistent thread is that everything I wear now is either secondhand, sewn by me, or altered by me to fit better & make it more personal. I find that in buying vintage & secondhand, I am also more careful with my clothes & take extra care to mend them and make sure they last, which has given me so much more of a deeper appreciation for the technology and craftsmanship that went their making. I rarely feel the urge to buy clothes anymore, as I am happy caring for and wearing the items I already own (though I do still enjoy sewing as a creative endeavor). As a lover of self-expression, there is nothing more beautiful to me than seeing someone express their truest self, whether that be through clothing or another outlet. Thank you for making this video; although my body struggles have been a bit different to that of yours, I still felt the impact of your words & they resonated deeply with me ❤

[@finnning]

Very important video, thank you! Since homeoffice I started wearing adjustable soft trousers with a sort of belt/waistband that can fit no matter what kind of day it is and loose fitting cotton t-shirts. Not as adjustable as older fashion but still works better than anything before that I had to rebuy in various sizes because of weight gain or loss. I never walked the super up to date fashion road either, more like whatever I like, but often clothes didn't feel good despite looking good, so no more gothy frilly perfection for me, just comfy.

[@_de_reve]

your journey with fashion & beauty standards is so relatable for me! as a compessionate being and wanting to change my life to fit what i want is truly not easy but such videos as this help me with that! Thank you✨🌷

[@_de_reve]

PS. that morning tip of giving thanks to the person who clothed you is amazing! will do that now more often. because yes we should always keep in mind that we can go about our day because other people also helped you with that✨

[@audriscarborough9309]

Vasi, You are such a beautiful woman, inside and out ❤ I wanted to comment about this video right after I watched it. But, I was so emotionally inspired by you, and made to feel so many emotions, I felt it best to sit with all the feelings for a day or two. I am so proud of you. I have such a enormous amount of gratitude for you, for you sharing your experiences and feelings. You have so much grace in the way you speak, and the way share parts of what you have gone through in life. I love that you also share how you have grown and how you are learning to settle in to your true self. The fact that you are honest about the work you do to find that inner voice and self worth, it's beautiful! It can be painful, because you make us feel yours and our own truths and hurt and strength.... thank you. You are a gift to so many people. I am so grateful and happy that I found your channel! I feel that you offer so much to all of us watching you and are a treasure to those close to you. With a sincere heart, Audri

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much Audri for the kind words and for everything ❤️

[@itsmeheathermarie]

Thank you so much for this video. Ever since I went through puberty, I have had more of a cuvy figure which has made it difficult to find modern clothes that fit right. Many years ago, I got into vintage style and I'm talking from 30s-80s and now always prefer wearing vintage over modern because they just fit so much better!

[@debcomly2481]

Loved the video and your message. I feel so much better when I wear my vintage clothing. Modern fashion with Logos and all the trends were never really for me. In High school I wore them to fit in and make friends but now I wear what makes me happy. I am also an introvert, so I sometimes feel alone with the way I dress and carry myself. I just feel that sometimes nobody understands me. I live in Florida and dress in Vintage England type clothing. I am always getting comments on why I am dressed up when really, it's how I dress every day. It's because other people around me have on shorts, T-shirts, and flip flops. Thanks again for the meaningful video. Hugs.