When I was a teenager in the late 1990’s there was no such thing as “Vintage”. Why save up pocket money to buy new clothes that felt almost right when, for a fraction of the cost, I could unearth something rarer, mustier, something with “character”?
“Character”. It’s the word actors use to describe the person they’re pretending to be, of course. To this day I still view getting dressed as an opportunity to take part in the most low-level acting exercise possible.
Whether it’s vintage-inspired or the genuine article, I’m a clothes enthusiast. My personal inspiration is the end of the 1950s, before the 1960s started to swing. So, let’s see what you need to do to wear vintage 🙂
1. Get to know a nice tailor
The more you know about how clothes work, the more you can understand what can be tweaked and what can’t. There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing a tailor improve a vintage find with a few nips and tucks.
2. Visiting a flea market? Plan ahead.
There are phenomenal vintage markets all over the world. The Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena is truly a wonder, and stretches as far as the eye can see, but it can be overwhelming.
3. Try, try, try
There is no substitute for trying things on.The more clothes you try on, the quicker you’ll get a taste for what feels right and wrong. Soon you’ll be able to just look at a rack of vintage clothes and tell instantly what works for you.
4. Boot force
Finding a solid pair of boots seems a no-brainer when it comes to pulling off a variety of vintage looks. Whether it’s a dressier Chelsea boot, or something hardy like DMs, Wolverine, Blundstone, Chippewa or Danner, buy the best you can afford, and repair rather than replace.
5. Overlooked accessories
Vintage menswear is full of weird and wonderful curios that aren’t commonplace anymore. If you can’t find them at a market/vintage shop then some people are doing them: tie pins, pocket squares, silk scarves lapel chains and button-on braces are all fantastic ways to add colour and flavour to an outfit.
Explore our pinterest board for more inspirations. Get more ideas for your projects and find functional, stylish and sizable lighting choices.
