How To Wear Vintage Clothing Without Looking Like You Robbed A Thrift Store
So what’s the difference between true vintage and those shutter sunglasses collecting dust in your top drawer since 2008? Generally speaking, clothing from the 1920s up to 20 years ago is considered vintage. While some mass retailers Urban Outfitters, Flight Club have incorporated limited vintage pieces to their stock, a complete offering of vintage clothing and accessories can be found in exclusive vintage shops where the items are expertly curated.
1. Classics Never Die
Whether you follow fashion trends or not,there are certain staples in a man’s wardrobe that have and will never be dated. A great leather jacket, a classic pair of denim Levi’s, a bomber jacket, a soft-worn novelty t-shirt. These are timeless pieces that can be found in abundance at a good vintage shop. And there’s more. Military-inspired looks are on trend. Nautical prints are everywhere this season. What a surprise, they always have been. In shopping vintage, you can find standards that have stood the test of time and have proven quality made apparent by their longevity.
2. Standout Pieces Make You A True Original
Vintage by nature is completely different than traditional retail. Because the selection is limited and hand picked by shop owners, there are often only one or a select few of any given item. Each piece can become unique and personal to its finder. While classic pieces may be easier to come across, there are also many interesting, one-of-a kind items that will be exclusive to you. If being an original is important to your lifestyle, vintage shopping is a great way to collect and build up a wardrobe that is unlike anyone else’s.
Additionally, sometimes there are current styles or cuts of clothing that flood the market and may not fit your personal style or body type. Can’t seem to wrap your brain around minimalist, unisex-inspired normcore? Don’t. Just because there’s a trend doesn’t mean you need to follow it. Use a vintage selection to find an array of cuts, colors, textures and depth amidst a sea of boring sameness
3. Building A Relationship Can Lead To Building A Wardrobe
Anyone who frequents a vintage shop can vouch for a shopping experience that is both personal and individualized. that because of the . If you’re the type of guy who gets easily flustered while shopping, the intimacy of vintage shop has the built-in advantage of having someone else do the work. Because vintage shops stock their shelves by choosing quality items that they believe will be of genuine interest to their customers, they can hand-select their stock instead of pushing out a corporate mandated sales agenda.
4. Contemporary hair and makeup.
Chances are, unless you are dedicating hours to recreating precise vintage hairstyles and makeup application, your hair and makeup are already going to look comparatively modern. Simplicity in hair and makeup is a tried and true way of grounding a vintage outfit, such as wearing a 1950’s dress with a slicked back ballerina bun or pairing an Edwardian blouse with a subtly smoky eye. Even contemporary versions of classic hairstyles will update a look while still giving a nod to the appropriate era; modernized 1940’s loose waves — which have been a Hollywood favorite for the past couple of years are a great example.
5. Modern accessories.
Pairing vintage clothing with decidedly modern shoes, bags and sunglasses is an easy way to dramatically ground an otherwise whimsical garment. It is easy to keep the overall look streamlined by picking a color that is present in the garment and wearing contemporary accessories in the same color. Of course, pops of vibrant color paired with all black accessories or vice versa is also a quick way to modernize a classic vintage garment.
