The Do’s and Don’ts of Vintage Fashion
At the end of the day, you can do whatever you want when it comes to vintage fashion (or any fashion)! If you’re anything like us, however, you always appreciate a set of guidelines to help steer you in the right direction and make sure you look your best while rocking your favorite vintage fashion piece. Here are our personal do’s and don’ts of vintage fashion!
DON’T: Dress Head-to-Toe in Vintage
There’s a reason the saying, “Less is more” works for almost anything. While it may be tempting to wear all of your new vintage pieces at once, you may risk looking like an extra off the set of Mad Men, or that you’re wearing a Halloween costume. Sure, it may have worked back then – but back then, these pieces weren’t vintage yet!
DO: Use a Vintage Item as a Statement Piece
Having one bold vintage statement piece to tie your entire outfit together is a great way to incorporate vintage apparel without looking like you took a deep dive at Good Will. Wear all-black underneath a patterned coat, or find a big, chunky, colorful necklace to go with a more subdued summertime look. Dressing around one adventurous item is a surefire way to make yourself look more put together.
DON’T: Buy Pieces That Do Not Fit
We’ve all been in a situation where we’ve had to convince ourselves to buy something that might not fit right because it’s too cute to pass up or it may fit one day. This may be the case even more with vintage fashion because the item is unique. Don’t buy something you don’t feel your absolute best in or doesn’t fit comfortably – it’ll end up hiding in your closet, never being worn, when it could be appreciated so much more by someone else.
DO: Use a Tailor to Change Up the Look
If you must get that one-of-a-kind vintage item that doesn’t quite fit, be sure to invest in a tailor. Not only can they work with you to make sure it fits you better, but this is also your chance to put your personal spin on that particular piece of clothing. Cinch in the waist of a T-shirt dress or make those loose-leg pants more hip-hugging. This is the time to let your creativity run wild!
DON’T: Go Overboard with That Decade’s Trendy Styles
Wearing vintage wedge heels with modern flare jeans and a polo shirt may give you that classic 70’s look, and so will wearing giant hoop earrings and a flower-power bell-bottom jumpsuit. Remember what we said earlier about avoiding looking like you’re dressed up for Halloween? Going after overly trendy vintage pieces only will make your outfit look forced and gaudy. You want to channel that decade, not time travel to it.
DO: Incorporate Vintage Jewelry and Accessories
One aspect of vintage fashion people seem to forget about is arguably the most fun part – the accessories! Statement jewelry, purses, or watches are a great way to show off your love of vintage without having it feel too in-your-face. Remember less is more? Make that your mantra when shopping vintage, and you may find a unique, rare item that you can proudly claim as yours!
