Connect
To Top

How to Shop Vintage for a Glamorous Wardrobe

For avid fashionistas, vintage and secondhand shopping is definitely one of the most overwhelming pastime activities. It’s become a time capsule for all those enjoying the glamour of the eras long past. After all, there is nothing more exciting than finding a forgotten treasure such as a classic little black dress or a gorgeous Chanel purse.

In order to incorporate such garments into the rest of your wardrobe, you need to know all the subtle differences between real-deal vintage pieces and the items that are simply worn out. To shed some light on this issue, we made a quick guide to revamping your wardrobe with killer vintage and secondhand clothes.

The Difference between Vintage and Second Hand Clothes

Parallel with the rise of this trend, the number of vintage and consignment stores, such as swap, has also grown. Unsurprisingly, this leaves us with an amazing opportunity to finally revamp our wardrobe and reinvent our personal vintage style in a way we’ve always dreamed. However, in order to do that properly, we first need to learn how to differentiate between vintage and regular second hand items.

Vintage is a notion that encompasses a wide scope of features. For example, while some people divide clothing items based on the era in which they were made, others focus on how coherent they are with the style of that epoch. In either case, it’s more than obvious that the most universal definition considers vintage clothes something that was designed and worn at some point in the past. Consequently, the majority of people believes that vintage and secondhand are one in the same.

The key difference between these two notions lies in the following: while you can definitely find an amazing vintage piece in a secondhand store, it is highly unlikely that you will find an ordinary thrift item in a specialized vintage shop. Vintage stands for something special, something of timeless design and quality, as well as something that has stood the test of time and remained popular (or at least applicable) for decades. Generally spoken, vintage clothes can be defined as the subcategory of the secondhand clothing, the one that has maintained both its aesthetic and qualitative value over the course of years.

Wearing Vintage

Today, numerous celebs are in love with vintage. It doesn’t matter if it is Dita Von Teese’s embroidered midi skirt and a sheer bustier top, Scarlet Johanson’s navy midi dress, or even Taylor Swift’s adorable Americana polka dot outfit, each of those stars can serve as a great inspiration for us all. Still, there are several simple principles you need to follow in order to build your own vintage style.

Start with Something Classic

Before you choose some bold items, you should definitely start from something basic, foolproof, and, most importantly, timeless. For instance, when combined with proper accessories, the 1960’s seductive little black dress or the 1950’s subtle beaded cardigans are definitely pieces that won’t lose their luster immediately.

Mix Eras

Even though vintage garments are supposed to add a romantic vibe of some past eras, the truth is that, when not chosen carefully, they can look too “costumey.” To avoid this, there are several things you need to keep in mind. First, you must know what era a particular item belongs to. Generally, the eras that fit into a contemporary wardrobe the best are those not so far in the past, such as the latter half of the 20th century. However, if you opt for an item from the 1940s or the 1950s, try to combine it with some newer pieces in order to achieve the vintage look rather than a costume effect.

In the end, there is an incredible fun fact that might peak you interest. Did you know that the notion of vintage initially referred to best wines iconic for a particular year? Incidentally, that’s exactly what vintage pieces of clothing represent today. They add a genuine, sensual and authentic vibe of old times to our style and, most importantly, make magnificent additions to anyone’s taste and preferences. In the world of fashion, that’s all that matters, after all!

About the Author

Sophia Smith is Australian based beauty, fashion and lifestyle blogger. She is also very passionate about organic beauty products and healthy lifestyle. She is regular contributor at High Style Life.

Find her on: Facebook
Twitter
Google +

  • Save

More in Fashion

Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap