The Vintage Advantage

Here at AskBronny, we know that styling your vintage look can be a daunting prospect, and so we’ve laid out a few hints for those who want to explore the unlimited fashion potential of delving into the past!  When it comes to those who favour vintage clothing, there are two types of people in the world; those who stride forth confidently, with insouciance and aplomb, and those who look like they’re headed out to a costume party.  Whether you fancy yourself as a shift dress-wearing mod, an elegant Edwardian, or a 1950’s glamour gal.

There are definite do’s and don’ts for wearing vintage clothing, so what are the secrets to successful fashion time travel?  The main rule is to have the right attitude.  The  great Coco Chanel once commented that the secret to wearing a mink coat is to behave as if it were a cloth coat, and the trick to wearing a cloth coat is to carry yourself as if it were a priceless mink.   The same piece of sage advice applies when it comes to vintage clothing; carrying your outfit in a stylish, but natural manner will get you everywhere.  Remember, you wear your clothing, it doesn’t wear you!

Another important tactic when wearing vintage is to apply the same standards that you would to contemporary clothing.  In other words, nothing that is stained, torn, or terminally musty. Unfortunately, much of the best vintage wear is to be found in opportunity shops, markets, and at the back of your Mum’s wardrobe, so it may not be in pristine condition.  Just because something is essentially heartbreakingly beautiful, doesn’t mean that you should leave the house wearing it if it has passed from being fragile to frayed, delightful to discoloured, or period to pest-ridden.

Fit is an issue that every seasoned vintage clothing aficionado is aware of.  Because some of the loveliest vintage clothing was made to fit its original owner, you may find, as its new owner, that it doesn’t quite fit you!  The solution to this problem is to find an experienced and reliable dressmaker, who, above all, shares your vision, and then do everything you can to cultivate her!  The adjustment of a hem or seam, perhaps the movement of a trim, may be all that’s needed to turn a ‘not quite right’ into a ‘can’t live without’.  Remember, vintage fashion is a game of skill and knowledge, and the wise yesteryear wearer knows when a glorious dress might be better remade into a gorgeous shirt, or that ultra-delicate beaded bodice may enjoy new life as an evening bag. It’s always best to cut your losses, rather than wear them!

Avoiding the ‘costume party’ look is also easier if you are not too slavish in your approach.  It’s always better to mix and match clothes and accessories from different periods that somehow work together, instead or assuming that items from the same era will match one another just because they were made around the same time.

And the final secret to gaining the vintage advantage?  Old-time glamour is always enhanced by old-time grace, so wear your gifts from the past with old-fashioned elegance and confidence, for that is always the way to turn vintage style into stylish.