Why do we enjoy wearing clothing from another era? Is it purely a collectors passion? Are we attracted to the nostalgia the clothes evoke, like the postwar femininity or boho chic? Or is it that vintage makes a statement?
One of the downfalls of wearing mainstream designs is their increasingly generic look. The fashion industry has always been highly competitive, but with the current demand for cheap plentiful goods, mass marketing has taken over. As a result, many of us may find a deterioration of style offered at our local department store. For those of you who crave a bit more variance in your wardrobe, vintage is a fabulous resource!
With the variety and one-of-a-kind-finds, vintage easily fulfills the desire for a signature style. Whether beautiful classic dresses, cozy sweaters, of sophisticated skirts, you can pair contemporary basics with any of these vintage picks.
For those on a funkier fashion quest, vintage is a natural resource for experimentation.
Using your imagination you can combine a psychedelic-printed top over jeans or even a wool blazer or sweater with a modern designer’s skirt. Turning to vintage means being certain that no one else will walk into class wearing the same outfit you have on. Don’t be afraid to mix old and new, funky and traditional, to create a look that’s as individual as you are.
Secondly, vintage is the last holdout of truly fabulous fabrics. Today’s ready-to-wear market features scads of clothing made from not-so-great fabrics in varying qualities of cut and construction. Some modern labels are still well made, with fine-quality fabrics, but they are usually extremely expensive. As a vintage shopper, you’re sure to encounter luxurious cashmere that will not pill, cotton sateen that feels like silk, and the most beautiful pure woolens you have ever laid eyes on.
It may be unnatural to buy clothes that have most likely already been worn, washed, or stored for years, yet once you realize it’s perfectly wearable and perfectly fashionable, you’ll see the tradeoff is worth it. Be they old or not so old, vintage fashions are about styles that are pioneering, classic, or iconic as well as reflective of their era. And although their day may have come and gone, there is definitely a renewed interest in wearing them.