A woman ha revealed how she spent more than £5,000 building up a wardrobe filled with 1940s-inspired clothes.
Sarah Goodlad (45), from Leicestershire makes all her own clothing using vintage fabrics from the wartime-era. She designed her own dresses, blouses and lingerie.
The solid fuel business co-owner has more than 300 pieces of custom clothing in her wardrobe which she has been building for 10 years.
Despite some odd looks from strangers her business partner husband, James Goodlad, 50,-supports her unique dress style despite not dressing in the style himself.
Sarah Goodlad, 45, from Leicestershire, makes all of her own clothing out of vintage, fabrics sourced from the wartime-era and she has created her own dresses, blouses, trousers and lingerie
Co-owner of solid fuel business has more than 300 pieces custom clothing in her wardrobe, which she has been building for the past 10 years.
She explained that she has always loved vintage fashion and history for as long as she can remember, especially during the wartime era.
“I find the clothing to be more elegant and refined than modern fashion and the patterns and fabrics used are so much better than the lower quality materials found in mainstream fashion.
“I feel like some people just wake up and don’t even look in the mirror. But, I live for looking good and well-made.
Sarah loves to wear her vintage clothes every day. She is often complimented on her attire outside the house.
She continued, “At this point I feel like the slightly strange vintage woman!”
“Everyone talks to us wherever we go and gives us lovely compliments, but it is often quite surprising because this is the attire I wear every day.
James Goodlad, her business partner, 50, supports her unique dress style despite getting odd looks from strangers.
Sarah loves to wear her vintage clothes every day. She is often complimented on her attire outside the house.
The avid sewer sources most of her materials from the US, and spends months perfecting her outfits.
“I visited the Eden Camp War Museum in North Yorkshire recently with my husband. Someone stopped me to ask me questions about the exhibits. I had to awkwardly tell him that this was just how I dress. He was definitely taken by surprise.”
The avid sewer sources most of her materials from the US, and spends months perfecting her outfits.
She said, “I source all my materials from across Europe because they weren’t affected by wartime restriction and have thus an abundance of fabrics.”
“Also, the UK market is extremely costly and most of my materials will cost up to five-times what I pay in America.”
Sarah is very particular about quality and will often use vintage patterns.
Sarah began sharing her clothing online through TikTok. She now boasts 12.6k followers
She said, “I collect McCall Company Patterns. They are a vintage brand that is very difficult to find in the UK. They are so good quality to work with when designing clothes.
‘The most expensive fabric I have ever bought was a 1930’s Rayon, Tropical Hawaiian print which I have had it two and a half years and cost me £250 for seven yards of fabric.
“I have yet to decide what it will be used for, and I don’t want it to go to waste on the wrong project.”
She visualizes her outfits, then works with the material to source it based on how she imagined it to look.
She explained that she can’t start sewing until I find the right outfit pattern.
Sarah loves the 1940’s but said she wouldn’t want to live in those times. She is happy living in modern society and is proud of her love for them.
Sarah’s wardrobe worth more than £5000 is pictured
‘I literally have thousands upon thousands of pounds worth fabric that I use to sew, but I don’t rush to use them until my idea is clear.
“I am like a magpie. I look at patterns, materials, and buttons everywhere I go for inspiration on future projects.
Sarah started sharing her clothing online through TikTok. She now has 12.6k fans.
She said: ‘During lockdown I struggled quite a lot with my anxiety and used TikTok as a creative outlet to share my outfits and create good quality videos
“I didn’t know it would grow so fast, but I love the fact that people are so interested and curious about what I do.
“I try to reply to as many followers in my comments because I find it so wonderful that people take the time to share positivity.
Sarah can design new outfits to her wardrobe at will.
Sarah loves the 1940’s but said she wouldn’t want to live in those times. She is happy living in modern society and is proud of her love for them.
She explained, “I think we do have a tendency to look at the past with rose tinted glasses.”
“I am certain that I would not give up my technology or the freedoms that we have fought for in order to achieve equality.
“There is something so nostalgic about wartime spirit, senses of community, and tenacity that you just adore.”
Sarah can design new outfits to her wardrobe at will.
She said that every day is a school day when you sew, and that she continues to learn new things.
“It is where I go to a happy space, and it really is an amazing thing in this crazy universe that keeps me sane.”