18 Feb 2008 04:37:51 | Mary Kincaid
b>BECOME A VINTAGE FASHIONISTA - WHY YOU SHOULD WEAR VINTAGE
CLOTHING
Vintage Clothing. You read about it in just about every fashion
magazine these days. You see photographs of celebrities wearing
it. What is all this fuss about vintage clothing about?
Vintage clothing is the perfect way to add a boost to your
wardrobe inexpensively. Sure there’s collectible vintage clothes
selling for thousands of dollars at upscale boutiques and
auction houses. But there’s also lots of high-quality vintage
clothing, often without designer labels, readily available on
eBay and websites, at vintage clothing boutiques, and for the
really adventurous, in thrift stores and at garage and estate
sales.
Vintage clothing, at one time, was worn primarily by the
financially bereft, but it has now become totally mainstream and
hip. Why should you embrace wearing someone’s old clothes?
1.Outstanding Quality
Once you’ve examined a quality piece of vintage clothing you
will readily see that it just can’t compare to one of today’s
contemporary garments at a similar price. It’s actually possible
to wear couture-quality garments for the price of ready-to-wear.
Vintage clothing was often lovingly sewed by talented home
seamstresses or made by designers who put extra-loving care into
each garment.
The fabrics, many times, are unbelievable. A similar item in the
same fabric today could conceivably put it out of your price
range. Outstanding silks, cashmeres, wools, leathers and furs
are available at prices that pale in comparison to walking into
a boutique and purchasing a similar item today.
2.Unique Details
Hand embroidery, unique buttons (many collectible on their own),
outstanding beading (sometimes glass), blazers with printed silk
linings. The kind of detail that today is often found in only
the high-end designer or couture garments is available on many
vintage clothing pieces of yesteryear.
3.Individuality
You can be assured that if you are wearing a vintage clothing
item, you will not have to worry about another woman walking in
the door with the same dress, blouse, or handbag. The confident
vintage fashionista knows that she can wear her beautiful
hand-embroidered tulle blouse even when lavish embellishments
aren’t the “Season’s Trend.” These vintage clothing pieces turn
heads because of their uniqueness. If you aren’t a cookie-cutter
personality, then vintage clothing is for you. Vintage allows
you to have what no one else can have—let them drool over your
one-of-a-kind pony skin handbag! You can look fantastic without
looking like anyone else.
4.Financial Freedom
Okay, quick quiz question: Which would you choose? A new Chanel
suit or Gucci handbag from the current season or 2 Chanel suits
or Gucci handbags from a decade ago? Buying vintage clothes,
especially non-sought-after labels or individually tailored
pieces, makes you clothing budget go a lot further. For the same
amount of your hard-earned cash, you can compile an outstanding
wardrobe by buying vintage clothing and accessories. Talk to
anyone who is a vintage-aholic and you’ll hear the stories: an
authentic Christian Dior handbag purchased for $1, a fox fur
stole for $15, a no-name wool suit with black fur collar for
$35. Now these are the extreme vintage bargains that make one
jump up and down with glee, yes, but purchasing that handbag for
$100, the fur stole for $125 and the suit for $150 is entirely
possible using eBay or a quality vintage clothing website or
boutique. Or maybe you’d rather blow your entire yearly wardrobe
on just one of these trendy pieces? I didn’t think so.
5.Environmental Contribution
According to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, over 4
million tons of textiles are sent to landfills each year.
Recycling these beautiful pieces of vintage clothing means less
clothing left in our landfills. It also honors the designers who
created them, the seamstress who poured hours into their
creation and the women who initially owned and loved them. Also,
most of today’s textiles requite petroleum in their manufacture,
so wearing vintage clothes also helps with our fossil fuel
concerns
Whatever reason makes sense to you, I guarantee that once you
catch the vintage clothing bug, you will never again be able to
walk into a department store and spend hundreds of dollars on an
ill-made garment. And, as you gain confidence in who you are and
what you like, your closet will start to take on your own unique
personality. You’ll have become a Vintage Fashionista!
About Author :
Mary Kincaid has been buying, wearing and collecting vintage
clothing for over a decade. Visit her website at www.zuburbia.com to read more
articles on vintage fashion or to shop at her online vintage
clothing boutique.