It was a hot Saturday afternoon at the peak of the boricua summer. We’d made a few stops during the day and I was falling asleep in Mom’s car. She had bought tickets to catch a movie that night, but there was still one more stop left before making it to Plaza Las Americas. Caught in a sleepy haze, I began to recount all the stores we’d already been to, trying to figure out which one was missing. Hmm…Ouna’s? Check. What was the name of the one with the dusty bookcase in the back? Electroshock? Yes, check! Okay, so then the last stop must be the one in Loíza. I’m pretty sure it’s in San Juan, though. Whatever, I think that one’s Len.T.Juela. One more to go!
I’d thumb through the secondhand Nancy Drew paperback Mom bought for me in our previous stop as she tried on several garments. A polka dot rockabilly dress. A pink long-sleeved lace dress with pearl buttons and a matching belt. A classy black top with multicolor floral embroidery decorating the front. At nine years old, I’d constantly wonder about Mom’s fixation with trying on what I thought of as “old lady” clothes. I used to think that, since nobody really dressed that way anymore, she would stand out as being old-fashioned or worse, perceived as outdated. And so, as the years passed, I never really appreciated the value of vintage garments, nor the history that’s woven into every one of their seams.
Whether it was spending afternoons sewing with my grandmother and her old McCall’s patterns, taking trips to local fabric stores to peruse the materials, or just staring in awe at elaborate costumes in a period film, all of these activities gradually made me view vintage fashion in a different lightーas a means to preserve history while at the same time passing it forward for future generations to reinterpret and reimagine. Besides this historic value that might give us a clearer idea of what fashion looked like at a specific time within a specific culture, or how fashion has evolved as a whole, vintage items carry a deeper, more personal value: its past. Of course, it’s impossible to know who wore which shoulder-padded blazer or mod colorblock dress, much less what this piece meant for its owner, but mythicizing its past while honoring the absolute mystery of its past can be a whole experience in and of itself.
Setting aside the nostalgia for an unfamiliar past, wearing vintage items can do a lot in terms of boosting one’s personal sense of style. In a time when fast fashion garments are instantly mass-produced based on whatever’s trending on TikTok and Instagram, wearing something different is both a creative and a sustainable way to assert your own style without having to conform to fleeting fashion trends. What’s moreー vintage fashion items that are still on sale (which are typically considered to have been created 20-100 years ago) have lasted so long for a reason. Because these garments were usually manufactured with a quality over quantity mindset, the textiles and materials used in their production are often very durable. Trust me, chances are you won’t really need to worry about throwing them away after a couple of uses upon purchase.
Despite vintage fashion normally being associated with expensive pricing, the reality is that there’s different options for different budgets. Like any kind of goods sold on a secondhand market, prices are bound to be very relative and mostly dependent on the seller. Some online marketplaces such as Poshmark, Etsy, Ebay and Depop have become hubs for international vintage sellers. Better yet, if you wanna shop local, you can check out Electroshock, Johnny & June, and Thriftordie.
Taking the time to explore vintage fashion and all the style possibilities it has to offer can be a fun hangout, romantic date or personal retail therapy session. Besides investing in high quality garments that are bound to last a lifetime (or several), supporting local businesses or independent sellers is always a great idea. If you still haven’t tried it yet, I highly encourage you to give it a chance, and indulge in a little bit of individuality!