I love vintage, you love vintage, we all love vintage! Vintage gems, thrift store finds, consignment catches, whatever you call it; wearing vintage is one trend that is here to stay. While what is considered vintage is loosely interpreted nowadays, vintage clothing is normally defined as:
~and~
“Vintage clothing is a term for clothing from another era. Usually clothing older than 25 years is considered to be vintage”
A vintage enthusiast at heart, 75% of my wardrobe is vintage and thrift store finds. Collected over time and from many different places, my vintage pieces are the most treasured and loved items in my closet. To me they represent unique style, flair and whenever I wear a vintage piece I feel most like myself.
Whether you are a vintage purist or simply love a $5 Salvation Army find, building a great vintage wardrobe takes time, patience and a thrill for the hunt!
Here are 5 tips to help build a vintage wardrobe you can wear with love, panache and passion!
Shop Wide, Shop Often
There’s a world of great vintage clothing waiting for you! From flea markets, Salvation Armies, Ebay and estate sales there are tons of different avenues to unearth hidden vintage treasures. The key to building a great vintage wardrobe is to become a vintage treasure seeker; always on the lookout for the next find. Because vintage is mostly hit or miss, shopping often and having a few favorite thrift stores will give you plenty of opportunities to find gems.
Look for the Hidden Potential
Vintage shopping can be overwhelming and not for the faint at heart. Sifting through racks and racks of clothes can seem like a lot to go through to find one piece worthy of your wardrobe. But by looking through aisles you may happen on a bejeweled cardigan nestled between old holiday sweaters. If a piece strikes your fancy, go with it. Try it on and look for the hidden potential. Imagine what and where you would wear it to.
Alter at your own Delight
There are dividing camps on alterations. Some say no, others say alter to your hearts content. I say it depends on the piece and the likelihood that you will wear it if it’s not altered. If a 1940’s vintage dress is too precious to alter, don’t risk it. If it’s an 80s jumper that can be taken it, go head! You’ll get more wear when something is designed to your style whims!
Vintage Accessories are Gold
A great vintage wardrobe (or great wardrobe period) needs accessories. The accessories wall or case in most thrift stores is a gold mine for sterling silver bracelets, funky brooches and cute clip on earrings. I’m always a bit weary of post earrings due to rust (and sensitive ears). And the great thing is that most vintage jewelry is fairly inexpensive and often times there are sales on buying pieces in bulk!
Pay it Forward
Keeping your vintage wardrobe in tact and edited can be tough. There are so many great pieces and it’s natural for us vintage lovers to want to hold on to everything. By giving away or selling some pieces, you make room for new vintage treasures to wear and love.
More resources on Thrifting & Vintage Shopping
- Vintage Fashion Guild
- Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show
- 14 Books for Learning about Vintage Fashion & Style – Sammy D Vintage
- The Thrift Shopper
- Goodwill Store Locator
- A Basic Guide to Thrift Store Shopping
Great post! When I first started thrifting, I would mistakenly call everything “vintage”… that soon changed when I started getting the hang of thrifting and researching brands, silhouettes, etc. When I luck up with a vintage gem (specifically a great blazer), it’s the best feeling in the world. One of the tips I swear by while thrifting is taking the time and looking at every single piece on every single rack. Yes, it takes forever, lol!… but that is the fun in thrifting; searching for those hidden treasures!
I also try everything on (if I can) no matter the size. I am often surprised at how the size on the tag doesn’t match up with the fit… and that has a lot to do with the era in which the item was made. 80’s and 90’s pieces tend to fit a bit more loosely and are “oversized” (namely tops). I absolutely love thrifting accessories. Some of the pieces I have scored have been amazing!
Sorry for the novel, lol.. I LOVE thrifting!
I am now working on “paying it forward”, good point! )
Thanks gal! Finding a great vintage piece is like winning the lottery! And I couldn’t agree more with looking through every piece! You never know what you will find!
Thanks for the comment!
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