Shopping vintage for vintage rookies.

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Vintage or retro fashion (as some refer to it as) is something that has become increasingly popular over the past decade and I don’t see it going anywhere anytime soon. Today I am here to convince all you vintage rookies out there why it is a good idea to invest in vintage fashion and come on over to the dark side.

So the first question is 'why vintage'?

The high street these days has us all looking like clones. I don’t know about you but  don’t you like looking different? The way you dress is part of your identity believe it or not. It says something about you . It is a form of self expression.  I for one love standing out. I never used to but fashion became an important part of my identity at some point in my life ( I feel an ugly duckling to a swan story coming up). I like mixing high street trends with my vintage pieces to create a more personal look. Vintage is a great way of making yourself stand out. A lot of vintage pieces come as a one off piece that only you will own. So why not?

Other convincing factors...

Quality: Clothes and accessories from eras past where made a lot differently. The high street as we know it today did not exist back then and clothes where made with longevity in mind. Fashion didn't change drastically every couple of months or weeks so clothes had to last more than one season.  Often times when I look at a vintage pieces I notice that they are well made, with better material and  finishing. A lot more love went into making these things. Why not own some of that love? If an item has lasted that long on this earth and it still has life then surely it says something about the quality. Everything these days is mass produced. The high street is always trying to sell you a new trend and things go out of fashion very quickly. 

Price range

Vintage can be as cheap or expensive as you like. There is really a wide variety when it comes to shopping vintage. From flea markets to high end vintage boutiques. For all you rookies I would advice you to start off cheap especially if you are still finding your style. The good thing with vintage is that cheap doesn't mean less value it just means going to less glamorous places to shop and digging for what you think you might like. Don’t kick it till you have tried it. I once found a 1980s Givenchy jacket for R5 ( this is less than 5 pence  for all my British readers)  in the Manzini flea market.  Vintage stores kind of pick out stuff they think will sell or people will find interesting and high end vintage stores mostly deal with couture pieces or items worn by famous dead or alive people back in the day.  I for one love flea markets. I could live there and when I’m in Swaziland I shop in flea markets exclusively. The shops make me panic because my brain thinks in pounds when I see R90 my brain is seeing £90 and it shuts down on me.

What I think you should look for when vintage shopping?

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Versatility : this is the most important factor for me. An item has to go with as many pieces in my existing closet. This helps me visualise the different ways an item can be styled. If a garment is versatile it means I get maximum use out of the item and for me that is a plus for me.

Unique factor : With vintage clothing you are most likely to be the only individual that own that particularly piece in your area code. ( I can’t guarantee the world sorry). Why not add a few pieces to your wardrobe that will make you have a more unique look. Mix vintage pieces with high street fashion and create something fresh and uniquely you. ( Am I drawing you to the dark side yet.  Yes. No Yes?)

Colour and pattern: Sometimes we give up on a piece of clothing because it’s too big or small. When shopping  for vintage. If it has an interesting colour or pattern  then I say go for it.  Just find a tailor to work with so you can breathe new life into something old and unwanted..

Where to shop vintage for rookies?

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If the idea of diving head first into a loud flea market where you will have to haggle with people doesn't appeal to you. I would suggest trying a second hand shop first which is a bit more organised and less smelly than a flea market.  Also try looking online if physically going out there to buy stuff puts you off. There are a plethora of vintage stores. I have one check it out  here ( cheeky advertisement). But seriously from eBay to Etsy to ASOS market place there are many vintage stores online. This is especially a great idea if you don’t know how to style pieces. Online vintage stores invests a lot of time in styling their pieces to give their buyers ideas on how to wear them.  Get styling ideas from Instagram and Tumblr if you are not sure how you would style a particular piece. There are plenty of options out there.

Vintage clothes shopping is more or less like an adventure. Be open to experiencing new things and all will be well.

Well I hope you enjoyed this post  lovelies.  I really have a passion for looking unique and standing out and I am sure it comes through in this piece. If you have any questions feel free to ask me. For more vintage inspiration follow me on Instagram @misstiwscloset and follow my vintage brand’s account @tiwisclosetvintage.

Have a fantastic week people.

Be a Diva in vintage ( like my fabulous assistants below) 

Tiwi

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