Vintage Fashion: A Cool New Hype
Vintage fashion is everywhere you look and highly visible on the runway this spring. Fashion designers often look to the past for inspiration about the next season's designs. For example Loulou Loves You have recently done a very good job with their latest retro/vintage lingerie collection. Picking up vintage wear at consignment stores and antique shops is now considered chic. Many celebrities have caught the vintage bug, glamourizing vintage clothing and embracing fashion trends from yesteryear.
Sarah Jessica Parker and Cameron Diaz are two fashionistas known for loving vintage clothing. No one should be surprised to see either celebrity sporting this spring's hot new vintage fashions. Some of the styles we're likely to see this summer are polka dots, wide waist belts, and 70s slacks with flaired legs. If polka dots don't turn you on, then maybe sporty, cool stripes will win the day.
The head to toe designer look is considered out in fashion circles, if you're to believe what you read in the magazines. Adding vintage touches to otherwise contemporary wear is the look of the day. Glamourous gloves reminiscent of Gatsby's times are all the rage, lending an air of elegance from times past to today's party or formal affair.
While vintage fashion works for a change of pace, there are certain things you should never do, according to Glamour magazine. For one, never dress in vintage head to toe. It is better to work around one dramatic vintage piece with modern wear. Glamour magazine also warns against wearing a Jackie-O style sundress at work if you want to be taken seriously. Using common sense when wearing vintage is always in style.
Giving those old vintage pieces a makeover can make all the difference. Changing buttons or adding a great new belt to an outfit is a great way to go. Layering also works to add some dimension to an otherwise boring dress or blouse. Don't forget to accessorize to bring the outfit together.
Vintage resort wear is also back with big floppy straw hats and sundresses. Cotton, cardigan sweaters worn over a sundress are advised for those cool spring evenings. Knee-length chiffon cocktail dresses reminiscent of mom's era are perfect for drinks by the pool. Swimwear this season is also 70s inspired with stylish polka dots and sexy one piece versions that look like they walked out of an old James Bond movie.
Vintage costume jewelry has made a comeback. Brooches, shoe clips, chunky bangles and pearl bracelets and necklaces dress up any outfit. Debutantes aren't the only ones sporting pearls these days.
Places to find vintage wear are popping up everywhere. The most obvious places to find inexpensive vintage wear are thrift stores, garage sales, estate sales, Ebay and vintage stores. There are also online shops selling cool items from the past.
If you want to get an insight into what vintage styles work for you, rent some old movies or take a walk back into the past by watching old TV shows. Think Jackie-O, Audrey Hephurn and Grace Kelly and you will get many images of glamour from the past. Jackie Kennedy was known for her fashion sense and inspired many styles still popular today. It is hard to think of her without conjuring up images of a pillbox hat, a string of pearls, and kitten heels.
Certain designers rule the vintage market. Chloe, Oscar de la Renta, Gucci and Christian Dior are a few names that come to mind when considering fashion moguls who strongly influenced the looks of the past.