Vintage clothing when probably styled can be
quite unique and make one stand out in a good way. When you purchase a vintage
piece, you are getting something that cannot be found at every departmental
store by the thousands. It is a limited, if not one of a kind item just
for you, this can mean you would probably be the only one wearing it at your
next event. They also offer a sense of character, history, style, and it’s
an aspect of fashion where you can really bring your individuality into your
look.
Here are a few pointers for getting head
turning vintage style
1. Ooze
confidence!
This is my
first rule with everything in life especially fashion, for me style is having
confidence, I believe if you wear things with confidence you can pull almost
anything off. So pucker up....shoulders square and strut your
stuff, you are wearing something unique and different as opposed to what
everyone else is wearing, trust me the compliments would be many.
 |
| Drew Barrymore in Eighties style body con dress with vintage earring and cut out ivory and black Giuseppe Zanotti |
2. Flaunt your stuff
Know your body type, choose pieces to
highlight your best feature and cover up whatever you want covered.
Never choose an outfit because it looks good on someone else.....it might not
work for you. If you have a small waist, then flaunt it with a
waist cinching 50's party dress. The trick here is to find what you
like the most about yourself and focus on it, this rule actually works across
various styles. Most times our best assets are usually what we like the
most about us. On the contrary If you are not crazy about your hips
then try a 60's a line dress that fits snugly in the bust area and then flare
out from there. Do not sweat what you do not like about your body
, "Just remember: someone loves everything you hate about yourself.”
-Frank Ocean
 |
| Kate Beckinsale in vintage Balmain |
3. Do you!
Stay true to your style
and own it! But also consider shape, cuts and fabrics that work best for you.
We all have our own unique tastes when it comes to fashion.......'Do you, as
only you can!
 |
| Kim K looking like a Retro Diva |
4. Start Small
I would not advise
starting off wearing vintage head to toe if you have not done it before; a good
way to start is to ease yourself gradually into it. You can do this by wearing
vintage accessories like scarves, hats, jewelry, handbags, or belts. Like with
everything less is more, so choose one accessory at a time.
5. Fit is everything
Vintage is one area
where clothing has to absolutely fit perfectly! Or you would end up looking
gaudy and ridiculous. So fit your outfit properly before buying or
have it amended to fit your measurements.
6. Stay on Trend
Stay updated with what’s trending in
magazines, blogs, and fashion websites in other to get inspiration on current
styles, colours, textures and prints and incorporate these into your
vintage styling. Since fashion is constantly being recycled, there are styles
from the past being made again, and there is a good chance you can find the
original version of a style in a vintage item from that era.
7. Mix Old with New
Its a great idea to mix and match
your vintage pieces with your contemporary
pieces. If you've found an amazing 80's sequin top you can pair
it with a new denim shorts or pants. Alternatively you can add touches of
vintage by pairing vintage accessories with your contemporary
pieces, for example you can add a vintage handbag or vintage sunglasses to
your contemporary look. With vintage, when in doubt…
pair with basics or black and white to be safe just like with any other
trend.
 |
| Christian Hendricks in a super stylish Stella McCartney outfit and retro cat eye sunglasses |
8.
Accessories..... Accessories...... Accessories!
A good rule when wearing
vintage clothing is to make sure it’s styled with great accessories,
this doesn't necessarily have to be vintage accessories.
Try adding a bit of character to keep your whole look interesting and
new, something as simple as a scarf around the neck, a brooch or a belt on a
dress for added shape can greatly refresh a look.
 |
| Eva Longoria wearing a vintage Neil Lane brooch |
9. Dress around one
dramatic piece
Wearing head to toe
vintage can easily tend towards looking outlandish....I would advise not to
wear vintage head to toe unless you are absolutely sure or you don't mind
looking like you are going to a Halloween party. A safe route to take
is to pick a great piece e.g. a great Jacket or Jeans and pair with simple
neutral accessories to make it look low key and modern rather than like
you just stepped out of a time machine.
 |
| Chloe Sevigny |
10. Be Inspired
It is helpful to collect
visual inspiration from Blogs, Pin interest, magazines etc. It helps to
have a visual reminder when you are not sure.
 |
| Blogger Salewa of forStylesake wearing beautiful accessories |
Finally, clothes from the past were made
with better fabric and technique than we have today. In the past there was more
emphasis on clothing being well made because clothes had to last longer since
people did not buy new clothing as often as we do today.
There was a lot of handmade processes in
the manufacturing of vintage clothing, unlike today where most processes are
machine made. they also tend to fit better because patterns were cut and fitted
on actual people....not just a computer program made to mimic what looks good
on a hanger.
On a larger scale, the cost
of production for these items have already been incurred, i.e. you
are not paying for the production of a new item ( fuel for shipping, energy to
produce, emission from factories, dumping of chemicals etc), so you are
essentially not contributing to pollution and stopping these items from going
into a landfill
If you ask me....its a win win situation, you are buying superiorly made, one of a kind, fashionable clothes and at the same time helping the planet!
xoxo
Have a fab weekend!
.jpg)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
