It’s no secret how much of a passion Ihave for vintage. I also know how tricky it can be to bag that perfect vintage treat – and how to develop an eye to separate the hidden tricks and treats in the vintage world!
This is why I have decided to compile a glorious A-Z of all things ‘Vintage’ in order to encourage lovers of all things old and beautiful to really get to grips with the wonderful world of vintage.
A is for Accessories.
A lot of celebrities, when asked about their personal style will exert the same manufactured response of ‘I love to mix designer and high street clothes, that way I feel I get the best of both worlds’. Well for us mere mortals this is translated as us mixing high street with vintage (and if we’re lucky, the odd designer garment). And it works, especially with vintage accessories.
Bags, belts and shoes are probably the best finds, and the variety is amazing. Pulling together a sexy new dress with some beautiful vintage heels feels great, adding a 1970s psychedelic belt to a summer look or a cute 1960s satchel for work...The list is endless. Just make sure that the accessories you invest in are versatile. After all, that fuchsia pink suede belt may look good with your cream skirt but what about the other 95% of your wardrobe?
(Allowances should be made however, if on initial sighting of said accessory, an unexpected and unstoppable gasp escapes your mouth and you find your legs – without instruction – have already begun moving in said accessories direction, well then, there was no choice!)
A lot of celebrities, when asked about their personal style will exert the same manufactured response of ‘I love to mix designer and high street clothes, that way I feel I get the best of both worlds’. Well for us mere mortals this is translated as us mixing high street with vintage (and if we’re lucky, the odd designer garment). And it works, especially with vintage accessories.
Bags, belts and shoes are probably the best finds, and the variety is amazing. Pulling together a sexy new dress with some beautiful vintage heels feels great, adding a 1970s psychedelic belt to a summer look or a cute 1960s satchel for work...The list is endless. Just make sure that the accessories you invest in are versatile. After all, that fuchsia pink suede belt may look good with your cream skirt but what about the other 95% of your wardrobe?
(Allowances should be made however, if on initial sighting of said accessory, an unexpected and unstoppable gasp escapes your mouth and you find your legs – without instruction – have already begun moving in said accessories direction, well then, there was no choice!)
B is for Bargain.
Possibly one of the best ways of shopping for vintage is in Charity Shops. Although at times they may seem tedious, it is when you bag that £10 Chanel Scarf tucked away at the bottom of the pile, or that shiny gold Givenchy brooch for a mouth watering £5 that it makes it worthwhile. After all, vintage is a challenge. There would be no point in sauntering in somewhere to find the latest ‘must have’ vintage dress or shoes, for it would take away at least half the excitement in the first place. Trust me, these bargains do happen!
It goes without saying that London is probably the best place for Charity Shop Chic; however these Londoners are mighty clever and will up their prices when they see a label. Other options include car boot sales. Ah, I hear you cry, not very glamorous but absolutely riddled with vintage bargains – and yes it does help that the previous owners probably won’t notch the price up a pound or two – even if it is to die for. My friend recently got back from a car boot sale on the outskirts of London and came back with a black clutch bag, a gold embellished grey leather bag, two belts and a box full of scarf’s for UNDER TEN POUNDS. Think what you will, but the evidence is there. Get there early for all the best finds...or wait until the end to haggle the prices down even further!
Possibly one of the best ways of shopping for vintage is in Charity Shops. Although at times they may seem tedious, it is when you bag that £10 Chanel Scarf tucked away at the bottom of the pile, or that shiny gold Givenchy brooch for a mouth watering £5 that it makes it worthwhile. After all, vintage is a challenge. There would be no point in sauntering in somewhere to find the latest ‘must have’ vintage dress or shoes, for it would take away at least half the excitement in the first place. Trust me, these bargains do happen!
It goes without saying that London is probably the best place for Charity Shop Chic; however these Londoners are mighty clever and will up their prices when they see a label. Other options include car boot sales. Ah, I hear you cry, not very glamorous but absolutely riddled with vintage bargains – and yes it does help that the previous owners probably won’t notch the price up a pound or two – even if it is to die for. My friend recently got back from a car boot sale on the outskirts of London and came back with a black clutch bag, a gold embellished grey leather bag, two belts and a box full of scarf’s for UNDER TEN POUNDS. Think what you will, but the evidence is there. Get there early for all the best finds...or wait until the end to haggle the prices down even further!
C is for Classics/Collectables.
Although arguably all vintage pieces are classics, there are the rare bits you will come across that will be physically impossible to remove from your hands without the impulse to purchase. These pieces will be, and I reiterate, very rare, but impossible to miss. A classic Chanel tweed suit, a Yves Saint Laurent trouser piece, a Balenciaga bag, Roger Vivier shoes...Ok, ok, extremely rare, but all the more important to look out for. Vintage shops in London take vintage buying very seriously so do expect to see the odd designer piece, but do be prepared to pay the price for it too. However, if you are on the lookout for that excruciatingly vintage gem then get down to London’s famous Brick Lane for some serious treats.
Although arguably all vintage pieces are classics, there are the rare bits you will come across that will be physically impossible to remove from your hands without the impulse to purchase. These pieces will be, and I reiterate, very rare, but impossible to miss. A classic Chanel tweed suit, a Yves Saint Laurent trouser piece, a Balenciaga bag, Roger Vivier shoes...Ok, ok, extremely rare, but all the more important to look out for. Vintage shops in London take vintage buying very seriously so do expect to see the odd designer piece, but do be prepared to pay the price for it too. However, if you are on the lookout for that excruciatingly vintage gem then get down to London’s famous Brick Lane for some serious treats.
D is for Dresses.
So you’ve got a wedding/graduation/party to go to? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to check before you arrived which guest is going to be wearing that same ‘new in’ Topshop dress as you? Oh it would make life so much more bearable. There is nothing worse than getting somewhere only to see somebody else in exactly the same outfit as you, especially if, dare I say it, they make it ‘work’ just a little bit better than you. Well, that exact fear is evaporated as soon as you decide to buy down the vintage route instead of the high street route.
So you’ve got a wedding/graduation/party to go to? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to check before you arrived which guest is going to be wearing that same ‘new in’ Topshop dress as you? Oh it would make life so much more bearable. There is nothing worse than getting somewhere only to see somebody else in exactly the same outfit as you, especially if, dare I say it, they make it ‘work’ just a little bit better than you. Well, that exact fear is evaporated as soon as you decide to buy down the vintage route instead of the high street route.
Vintage dresses come in all shapes and sizes, colours, fabrics and patterns. It is utterly impossible not to find the right one for you when scouring the rails. Not only is there tons of variety, but it’s even more likely your dress had a previous life which gives it much more vivaciousness than a factory produced garment could ever have! A problem I tend to have with vintage dresses is the length; it is always too long. However with only spending a fraction of the amount of what you would on the high street, it is easy to take the dress up a couple of inches, and voila, you have your one of a kind dress tailored to you!
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