Up until this point, my posts have generally been about what’s in style, where to find it, and how much it will cost you. What about clothes that aren’t particularly in fashion, but allow you to put your own twist onto an outfit by selecting a piece of clothing or accessory that’s titled as “vintage”? Literally, vintage pieces aren’t the newest fashion trend on the market. Their styles have been seen before, and worn before too for that matter. However, many fashion trends that we see today are based off an influx of reoccurring vintage pieces that surface after years of storage. Wearing a vintage design is awesome because the pieces are one-of-a-kind. How likely is it that the shirt you’re wearing today is on some other girl within a 50 ft. radius? Very. To wear something that you know can’t be reproduced is a favorable incentive to buying something vintage. Vintage pieces are generally not too expensive, but probably were at some point back in their prime. Thus, you get the same quality of construction as it had at a higher price, just that now it’s affordable. As stated, many current styles are based off of past era’s clothing trends. Buying something vintage allows you to wear the original and authentic archetype of that fashion, and not just some knock-off piece you bought at the mall. A vintage piece you encounter most likely isn’t a random, humdrum garment that someone impulsively sold to a consignment shop or vintage clothing store. Remember that you’re seeing these pieces because they’ve been kept around for a reason. They either have an irreplaceable design, unique purpose, or epitomize the fashion style from the era they are from. Rest assured that the vintage piece you just purchased is special in one way or another. For those who aren’t already sold on going vintage, you may be asking: why would I want to wear something that someone else has worn and is totally outdated? In response, I beg to differ and proclaim that the “wear-and-tear” feel of vintage pieces is what makes them so remarkable and unique.
In my previous posts, you’ve seen a lot of clothes from Modcloth.com. The one’s I’ve shown have been current styles that relate to some fashion trend in some way. However, Modcloth.com is recognized for their vintage section on their website. There, you’ll find several pages filled with vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces. You’ll also find that all of them are probably sold. Consistent with the unique nature of vintage items, only one person can buy the item before it is sold out. If you’re familiar with bidding on an item from EBay, you’ll recognize the similarity in this situation. If refreshing the page a million times in order for you to be the first person to purchase a new item doesn’t appeal to you, I advise you to look at the Modcloth.com’s vintage section anyway. It’ll enlighten you to what vintage piecing is all about. Here are a few samples:
 |
| Vintage Resplendent in Ruby Top; Modcloth.com |
 |
| Vintage Sunny Meadow Dress; Modcloth.com |
 |
| Vintage Live in Color Bag; Modcloth.com |
Urban Outfitters also has their own vintage section called “Urban Renewal”. These pieces are not vintage in construction, but are made out of vintage materials and fabrics. If you want something that looks vintage but will have a flattering and contemporary construction, try an Urban Renewal piece.
 |
| Vintage '80s Floral Blazer; Urban Outfitters |
 |
| Vintage Heliotrope Crochet Top; Urban Outfitters |
Finally, Free People just incorporated their own vintage section into their website. Their section includes several collections that underlie a common theme—for example, “Sheer Victorian” or “Bohemia”. Free People puts outfits together using these items, which is extremely useful for those who don’t know how to wear something vintage. If you want to find a specific vintage item or theme, or want better luck than Modcloth.com with respect to actually purchasing an item, try Free People’s “Vintage Loves” section.
 |
| Vintage 1920s Crochet Dress; Free People |
 |
| Vintage Prairie Dress; Free People |
Back to the roots!
Great post!! Although I've never worn or shopped for vintage pieces myself, I think it's a really cool thing! Thinking about the stories behind a piece of clothing is super interesting. It seems like it just adds something extra to your wardrobe. Do you often wear vintage items?
ReplyDelete