Vintage clothing has never been more popular than it is now. With the rise of awareness towards the polluting practises used by most fast fashion brands, more people are looking to vintage clothes as a fashionable way to update their wardrobe. Even vintage basics like a pair of vintage shorts or a vintage sweater can become a central piece to a closet. So, here are our favourite styling options for your vintage pieces.
Don't Be Afraid to Mix Eras
People often assume that clothing from different eras can’t be worn together. But there are a lot of modern styles and features that can be used when wearing a vintage piece. Socks with heels can create a cute modern twist to a vintage dress, as well as wearing a turtleneck or skivvy under it, which is great for winter and creating a nice, layered piece.
This idea of mixing era’s has become something that scares most people. The best way to get this right is to practice, practice and practice. Sometimes, the most wonderful, unexpected results come from a lot of trial and error. It doesn't mean mixing one bold design with another (unless you like some pattern clashing) but taking similarly styled pieces from different decades that could fit in well with the look you're trying to achieve. Just because your black platform heels are from the 90’s doesn't mean they wouldn’t go well with a pair of 50’s high waisted vintage shorts. When styling a vintage outfit don’t be scared of the different eras it might be made up with.
Accessories
A good rule when wearing vintage clothing is to make sure it’s styled with great accessories, this can mean using new or vintage accessories. It’s amazing how a simple belt can update your outfit or create a nicer silhouette, especially in a vintage dress.
If you’re not too keen on fully embracing the vintage flair throughout your look, try and add a small vintage touch with either a second-hand bag, sunnies, or even a scarf to give your look a little more character. It’s easy to change the style of an outfit to look more modern or vintage through the utilisation of your accessories. Pops of vibrant color paired with all black accessories (or vice versa) is also a quick way to modernize a classic vintage piece. So many simple tweaks can be done to keep your whole look interesting and new.
Jewellery is another accessorising option to complement your outfit. Preloved earrings, rings, bracelets, broches, or necklaces can be worn together or individually to really make them stand out in your fit. If you love your contemporary designs, you can wear them with a vintage outfit instead.
Here are a few little extra tips to keep in mind when finishing off a cute vintage outfit.
- Do your makeup and hair in ways that are going to complement the outfit, not clash against it. Usually, a natural or subtle makeup look will work best.
- Don’t overlook more basic vintage pieces, if matched well it can be used in a large variety of outfits throughout the seasons.
- If you’re not sure about your look, find some inspiration from Pinterest or Instagram. There are a lot of people embracing vintage outfits in different styles, and a lot of tips to be shared.