Diegogarcity, Fake Bolero Edition

Does this ever happen to you? One day you notice something odd, or new, or both, and then over the next several days (weeks, months, years) you start noticing the same phenomenon ALL THE TIME. There's a name for this; believe it or not -- it's called diegogarcity.

And, anyway, I must have given you all diegogarcity, big time, with the fake boleros, because you are all now seeing them everywhere. Here's a recent submission, from Lorraine (or, seeing as she prefers to be known by her Sewing Conspiracy Drag Name, Dixie S. Hoyt):




This one is SLIGHTLY more elegant than some of the other candidates, but it's still fakety-fake-fake.

If you can live with the deception and the tissue of lies, click on the image to visit Woodland Farms Antiques; the pattern's a B39 and $15.

And keep those fake-bolero entries coming, if you would ... maybe later we can have a fake-bolero-off. (You know, like a contest, with voting. Because the actual fake boleros DON'T COME OFF.)

Comments

[Allison S-K]

It may be fake, but it is super-cute. I love the scalloped neckline below the collar. And it is less obviously fake than some of your previous candidates for best fake bolero dress. This one gets my vote!

[Eirlys]

And the real name for fake bolero syndrome is "bogus bolerosity". Thought you should know (sorry, have no citations, but it feels so right).

[Latter-Day Flapper]

I actually like the fake-bolero thing. I like the bolero look but I'm not really a jacket person, and the layered short-jacket thing doesn't work on me (I'm pear-shaped; boleros make all of me look as wide as my butt, which is not good). A fake-bolero gives you the same effect but with less actual bulk.

[Stephanie]

I always heard that "reticular activation" was the term for when you start noticing something over and over once you're made aware of itex. you want a puppy, suddenly you see puppies everywhere

[Flowerdew Onehundred]

I just sold this fake bolero havin' dress on the eBay.Marian Martin 9116

[Rachelle]

So far, I've escaped diegogarcity, thank goodness. I HAVE been seeing a number of fake pockets, though, which irritates me far more than fake boleros. It's hard on my container fetish to see the openings of containers with no holding power.I love things that hold things.Signed,Kiki Caswell, sewing conspirator.

[Alison]

Diegogarcity? I've been using 'Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon' to mean the same thing, but diegogarcity is a lot more compact. I learned a new word!

[anthrokeight]

Whitstable Bushmill here wondering if there's some kind of strange cosmic something-or-another going on. A bunch of fake in-drag sewing conspirators trying to sell one another garments with fake features. Fake pockets, fake boleros... is there nothing sacred anymore?Also, Alison, I think all of St. Paul Minnesota also calls the phenomenon Baader-Meinhof. That's the term used in the St. Paul Pioneer Press's "Bulletin Board" feature for such events.I like this dress better than the other fake boleros, but that's not saying much- fake features on clothes drive me nuts; maybe this is because of all the fake necklaces and chains and vests that decorated clothes when I was a kid in the 80's. I'd like to see a real one made up. Maybe I'd be persuaded by a dress in 3D.

[Jen O]

Bolero?Nah, it's a "mantua", notice the seam lines all the way down the front. And that center front piece in the bodice? that's a "stomacher". Soooo not a bolero, but a new faux to know, (hint: dress a day c. 1795)

[Jen O]

sheesh, that should read"hint: dress a day c. 1695"

[Skippy Magee]

Thanks for the link to Astrogirl's flickr set, it's definitely worth a click-through!

[astrojen]

I love learning new words, one can never know them all.i have experienced many times and recognized the phenomenon, but I never knew of any word to describe it. It usually manifests in the form of learning a new word. Now I should not be surpised if I should see it everywhere for a while; just validating the phenomenon.Very cool Erin,you always have us thinking.(even though you are a professional writer for a major retail outlet specializing in sewing trivia and vintage out of print patterns and whose sole ambition is to corner the entire web ad market with your blog, thereby eventually forcing the price of web ad space higher than a gallon of gas.)

[Latter-Day Flapper]

Fake pockets are WRONG! Wrong, wrong, wrong! Absence of pockets is wrong enough, but absence of pockets combined with tease-y intimations of pockets that do not exist is grounds for . . . something. Breach of promise suit or something. That has to qualify as some kind of crime.

[Deirdre]

How about "fauxlero".

[kim p.]

Erin (or anyone else)--How does one pronounce "diegogarcity"? Thank you, thank you, for this word! I love finding out that there is a single, discrete word for something that usually takes many vague and awkward sentences to describe! I have a hunch "diegogarcity" is going to become my next diegogarcitic experience!

[Ju]

I liked learning the etymology of serendipity, one of my favorite words:> It is a play on serendipity, as Serendip is an old name for Sri Lanka.But it makes me wonder: how many old names does Sri Lanka have?

[Cookie]

Oh, I like this one! I'm kind of fascinated by the idea of some 1940's secretary making these "fauxlero" outfits in obviously contrasting colors, to look like she's invested in a suit when it's all actually just a 1-ZIP-DRESS! (The girls around the water cooler were wondering why she didn't mix up her separates once in a while.) A very entertaining read on this "diegogarcity" issue can be found in the novel COINCIDENCE by David Ambrose. It's a supernatural thriller, and lest even one amongst you stand to accuse me of the dreaded shilling, hear yee now that the book's available at the library, because it was written in 2003! Also note: New Pic. Your friend and co-conspirator, Francesca Bentley (Hollywood Division)

[Cookie]

Oh dear. I blew up that image so much I look kind of...mottled. I must work on it further in the Spy Lab.

[Eirlys]

What happened to your teeth there, Cookie? Seems a little bit of vampire is in your vamp there. Still, she's good. Add her to the shortlist.

[Theresa aka Velvet Plaza]

Velvet Plaza checking in to see if we are all part of some beautiful pattern induced dream Erin is having, as we don't exist outside this blogsphere. I too like this fauxlero dress and was momentarily poised to buy it. I reminded myself I already bought 8 vintage patterns Saturday. (For $1 each! Oh the insanity of senseless consumerism!) Sincerely,Velvet PlazaSewing Consipirator, FRA

[What-I-Found]

See, how I have to do all kinds of work, because believe or not my shops search box doesn't have "Fake Bolero" as a choice. Once again I am disappointed by technology. (BTW I am going to stick with my Pirate Name since it seems to well...fit me so well.)Regards,Esmerelda Fierce Arse

[lorrwill]

So Erin, are you confessing to being a diegogarcity enabler? Using fauxlero mind control through the internets? Hee hee heeAw shucks! I made the front page. I feel all chokey! I want to thank Erin and the academy for this honor...This fauxlero I plan to try to figure out how to copy. I am a shawl collar addict but many sizes smaller than it comes in. I love the peek-a-boo sweetheart neckline. I have no idea where I would wear it but I dont care.Main Street Mall has been having some issues but it is up now if you want to see the other two interesting specimens that I found...They put pockets where?!?!?: http://tinyurl.com/5yvfemFor the Fauxlero Collezioni (this might be a repeat, I am not sure): http://tinyurl.com/47dcnt Dixie S. HoytHappy Conspirator, FRA

[Sue]

"The etymology for the latter word relates to the island, Serendip, in the Indian Ocean. Diego Garcia is another island in those waters, providing a parallel for serendipity if such be desired."http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wwftd/message/901

[Lisa @ the Vintage Fashion Library]

Fauxlero. What a great word!

[Eirlys]

Yep, "fauxlero" has got to be the right word. Nicely coined, Deirdre! Bogus bolerosity might just be part of the definition, maybe.