There has been a change of tide lately with the economy the
way it is and people wanting to find comfort in the simple things again. This is why, I believe, shopping for vintage
anything (but especially clothing) has made a rather large resurgence.
FabSugar: Guest Blogger Rachel Zoe – How To: Shop AND Wear Vintage
Along with yearning for the nostalgia of yesteryear finding
vintage pieces is like finding hidden treasure.
Finding beautiful pieces with tags still attached – oh I just felt my
blood pressure rise – such a rush!! Even
if I don’t buy it for myself there is no way I’m leaving an incredible vintage
find behind – I know someone who would look awesome in it or I will use it for
a photo shoot before I walk away from something so fantastic!
For one, things were just made better in certain eras than
they are now. The material may not have
been wonderful (polyester I’m talking to you) but the craftsmanship was
impeccable. Things that were less
expensive and not considered couture at the time were even made better than
today.
I have searched through many
definitions of “vintage clothing” and the most common theme seems to be as
About.com defines it: “The term vintage
is used to describe clothing between 20 and 100* years old which is clearly representative
of the era in which it was produced. Vintage clothing can be used, new (from dead stock), manufactured, and handmade. It is important to understand that the
definition of vintage is fluid, so every decade brings forth new items as
"vintage". It is also important to understand that all vintage will
eventually become antique. *Clothing
100 years old or more is classified as antique”
Something to think about
when consciously going out to search for a vintage piece or pieces.
Doing vintage is fun and adds
to your own personal style. I talk a lot
about personal style but it is important to express yourself through what you
wear and how you wear it. It is an
outward expression of what’s going on inside – some days that’s good and some
days not so good – but nevertheless it’s the truth.
I view vintage as I do a
trend. Meaning that I wouldn’t do a
trend from head to toe – I strategically mix and match it and several pieces
throughout my wardrobe or outfit. If you
find an awesome vintage dress then mix it with some sky high platforms to make
it modern. If you layer yourself in
vintage jewelry like pearls and rhinestones, then wear it with a white tank top
and denim and, again, a hot shoe, to offset the fanciness of the jewelry. The trick to “doing vintage” is to do a piece
here and do a piece there. If done all
at once it can look as though your grandmother’s (or great-grandmother’s)
closet imploded all on one person and we don’t want that (unless you are doing
a period piece in the theaterJ.)
It is also important to do
your research. In the age of smart
phones and tablets it makes it easier to find out on the spot if the deal you
think you’re getting at the thrift store is truly a bargain. If I come across a label I am unfamiliar with
I will do a search right there in the store – sometimes it’s good and sometimes
not but it is important to be informed.
If there is a dress that isn’t a popular name but I really love it and
it’s $5.00 then I go for it and tweak it to my own personal taste. That’s the beauty of it – you buy something
for $5.00 and make it look like $500 and no one is the wiser. It’s all in how you carry yourself and the
confidence you exude in anything you wear.
Let’s recap:
·
Do vintage in moderation – a piece here and a piece there
·
Make vintage modern by pairing it with classic pieces of
today (denim, platform shoes, blazers, that little black dress, or the classic
white oxford)
·
Have fun when picking out pieces. It’s easier to try something if it costs
$5.00 than if it costs $100.00 so go for it!
·
There are no rules when it comes to your personal style.
·
Do your research – look up unknown labels or fashion
houses just so you know what you are buying – especially when it comes to high
end couture vintage pieces (e.g. Dior, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, etc.)
Vintage pieces can be found just about anywhere: Goodwill , Salvation Army, your local thrift
shop, your family’s closets, your friends’ family’s closets, and garage and
estate sales. There are also some
companies who have made upscale vintage their livelihood and only sell high end
designers and fashion houses for a pretty penny but they are worth every
cent!
I’ll leave you with a few of my favorite links:
FabSugar: Guest Blogger Rachel Zoe – How To: Shop AND Wear Vintage
Live life well and ENJOY!!
No comments:
Post a Comment