Q is for Queens of Vintage.Go to the online website for the latest news/events in vintage fashion. Not only do they supply readers with exclusive interviews and news, but also updates on the best cities for vintage and intricate details on each fantastic vintage fashion era.
R is for Resort wear.
Some of the most beautiful resort wear comes from eras gone by; special attention to wrap arounds and playsuits. By the end of the 20th century, there were many items that fell under this category. Although it may not be to everybody’s taste to purchase a second hand bikini or any type of beachwear, there are some lovely all in one pieces around that have never been worn and are factory seconds. From the beginning of the 20th century onwards, beachwear has been through many fashionable changes, which is great for all body shapes, because whatever era suits your body, try to find items from that particular era. The 1960s to the 1970s are great beginning places to look as they completely embody the hippy aesthetic for holidaying abroad.
S is for Sizes
My only bugbear with vintage is probably the questionable shoe sizes of women back in the day. It is near impossible for me to find a pair of shoes in a shop I love without turning them over and seeing a very popular vintage size of 4 or 5. It seems the one area women have definitely evolved in would be the foot department since the 1920s. Not wanting to dwell on the matter, I have occasionally tried to squeeze my six’s into a five with no obvious luck, but there is a silver lining. This silver lining comes with sizes of other garments including many clothes that would normally be oversized, being quite fitted and vice versa. With vintage clothing, I try not to care too much about the sizing either way, as I tend to like bigger vintage items quite baggy and well, the tighter the item the better. Sizes from the 1920s onwards will obviously vary from your standard sizes of today so do make sure you try on an item just in case you are dwarfed into a jumper or loosing breath because of a miniskirt. However, try to be more relaxed with it, after all some vintage items do look better with a looser or tighter fit; everything that is except the shoes, oh and maybe belts.
T is for Tailoring
There are some beautifully tailored garments from vintage eras gone by; on the one hand there are outfits like Yves Saint Laurent’s masculine tailoring and on the other some 1950s Christian Dior feminine skirt suits. Most tailored items are going to be jackets and coats, but skirts are also very popular too. If you’re after a statement piece then tailoring is very powerful in doing so. Coats of the 1950s were very beautiful, heavy fabrics but bold colours were popular and everything is tailored, from the sleeves to the waist, it doesn’t matter what you’re wearing underneath. A good way of looking out for tailored items is checking the neckline and the back of an outfit, if it is designed in a particular off cut style then it is more likely to be fitted when you try it on. Most vintage shops love tailored garments so they may well also be grouped together in a certain section of the shop. Unless you are certain or very brave, try not to meddle too much with pre-tailored outfits. As previously mentioned it is good to nip/tuck a few items here and there, but when something already has a fabulous cut, try to maintain it.
There are some beautifully tailored garments from vintage eras gone by; on the one hand there are outfits like Yves Saint Laurent’s masculine tailoring and on the other some 1950s Christian Dior feminine skirt suits. Most tailored items are going to be jackets and coats, but skirts are also very popular too. If you’re after a statement piece then tailoring is very powerful in doing so. Coats of the 1950s were very beautiful, heavy fabrics but bold colours were popular and everything is tailored, from the sleeves to the waist, it doesn’t matter what you’re wearing underneath. A good way of looking out for tailored items is checking the neckline and the back of an outfit, if it is designed in a particular off cut style then it is more likely to be fitted when you try it on. Most vintage shops love tailored garments so they may well also be grouped together in a certain section of the shop. Unless you are certain or very brave, try not to meddle too much with pre-tailored outfits. As previously mentioned it is good to nip/tuck a few items here and there, but when something already has a fabulous cut, try to maintain it.
U is for Unisex.
Try not to limit yourself to only vintage Womenswear; menswear is absolutely heaving with hidden treasures. Brogue shoes are a must for menswear, especially as women had quite narrow feet, if like me, you do have problems with women’s vintage shoes, always look at men’s, after all trying something on is harmless and you never know what could suit you. Men’s braces, t-shirts and waistcoats are also popular items as there seems to always be more diversity in slogan tees. Hats are always good to keep an eye out for, and there is always a lot of variety of briefcases and satchels. Vintage shirts are fantastic because they can be worn in such diverse ways, as well as jackets...ok, ok there is a lot of choice, so like I said, don’t rule anything out. Although there is a great following for vintage menswear, there always seems to be more stock and at cheaper prices so make sure you don’t glide past next time, remember there’s a man in woman.
Try not to limit yourself to only vintage Womenswear; menswear is absolutely heaving with hidden treasures. Brogue shoes are a must for menswear, especially as women had quite narrow feet, if like me, you do have problems with women’s vintage shoes, always look at men’s, after all trying something on is harmless and you never know what could suit you. Men’s braces, t-shirts and waistcoats are also popular items as there seems to always be more diversity in slogan tees. Hats are always good to keep an eye out for, and there is always a lot of variety of briefcases and satchels. Vintage shirts are fantastic because they can be worn in such diverse ways, as well as jackets...ok, ok there is a lot of choice, so like I said, don’t rule anything out. Although there is a great following for vintage menswear, there always seems to be more stock and at cheaper prices so make sure you don’t glide past next time, remember there’s a man in woman.
V is for Vinyl’s.
Old music is amazing. From Chuck Berry to Elvis to Frank Sinatra to The Beatles, you can’t beat some good old tunes. Especially when they come in the form of a 12” record. Everything from the way it plays (I fall in love with that scratchy vinyl sound every time I hear it) to the cover art, vinyl is a brilliant form of expressing a love of music. What’s even better is that they are everywhere, and I mean everywhere. From car boot sales to charity shops and stalls, vinyl is making a rather fantastic comeback. Expect to pay up to £5 in a charity shop for a decent vinyl, and in my eyes that’s nothing short of a brilliant bargain. So far in my collection I have managed to get hold of several David Bowie, Blondie, Kinks, Rolling Stones, Elton John, Nat King Cole, Beatles and Aretha Franklyn for probably under £20. If that isn’t an incentive to buy a vinyl player then I don’t know what is.
Old music is amazing. From Chuck Berry to Elvis to Frank Sinatra to The Beatles, you can’t beat some good old tunes. Especially when they come in the form of a 12” record. Everything from the way it plays (I fall in love with that scratchy vinyl sound every time I hear it) to the cover art, vinyl is a brilliant form of expressing a love of music. What’s even better is that they are everywhere, and I mean everywhere. From car boot sales to charity shops and stalls, vinyl is making a rather fantastic comeback. Expect to pay up to £5 in a charity shop for a decent vinyl, and in my eyes that’s nothing short of a brilliant bargain. So far in my collection I have managed to get hold of several David Bowie, Blondie, Kinks, Rolling Stones, Elton John, Nat King Cole, Beatles and Aretha Franklyn for probably under £20. If that isn’t an incentive to buy a vinyl player then I don’t know what is.
W is for Worldwide.
Whenever you are leaving the country, it is a golden opportunity to bring back some wonderful vintage bits. The selection of vintage available in Europe, Asia, Australasia and the USA is incredible as vintage tastes are different around the world. Make sure you take the time to check out any markets or shops you can when travelling or on holiday. Try to pick up items you know won’t be so available in the UK, beautiful vintage sarongs or accessories are popular. A good way of doing your research before you go is checking out some online shops to see what they have to offer. Just remember the price differences and don’t be too tempted by something just because you know you can’t go back to it, you will know when something has really caught your eye. Haggling is welcome in some countries, so there’s even more of a chance you will bag a brilliant bargain.
Whenever you are leaving the country, it is a golden opportunity to bring back some wonderful vintage bits. The selection of vintage available in Europe, Asia, Australasia and the USA is incredible as vintage tastes are different around the world. Make sure you take the time to check out any markets or shops you can when travelling or on holiday. Try to pick up items you know won’t be so available in the UK, beautiful vintage sarongs or accessories are popular. A good way of doing your research before you go is checking out some online shops to see what they have to offer. Just remember the price differences and don’t be too tempted by something just because you know you can’t go back to it, you will know when something has really caught your eye. Haggling is welcome in some countries, so there’s even more of a chance you will bag a brilliant bargain.
X is for X-Clusive.
Remember that all your vintage pieces may not be complete one offs; Jane Shilton handbags do tend to crop up more often than not, but most of the time your items will be rarer than high street items so treat them with care. It is always good to remember that vintage is old for a reason and it isn’t in tip top condition, so take care when picking when to wear certain bits; they should be exclusive for only certain types of events, especially if you’ve paid a lot for them. If a pair of Topshop shoes got wet in the rain they will be much easier to replace than a one off pair of vintage heels.
Remember that all your vintage pieces may not be complete one offs; Jane Shilton handbags do tend to crop up more often than not, but most of the time your items will be rarer than high street items so treat them with care. It is always good to remember that vintage is old for a reason and it isn’t in tip top condition, so take care when picking when to wear certain bits; they should be exclusive for only certain types of events, especially if you’ve paid a lot for them. If a pair of Topshop shoes got wet in the rain they will be much easier to replace than a one off pair of vintage heels.
Friends borrowing vintage items can also cause a few problems. If they are true lovers of vintage they will understand the exclusivity of some of your items and saying no will be less embarrassing. Try coming up with other options of outfits they might prefer to borrow, but if you really feel uneasy about lending out certain garments then honesty is always the best policy. Upsetting a friend for a few minutes will blow over; her returning your one off sequined bolero with a rip in won’t.
No comments:
Post a Comment