Please welcome our newest contributor! Ashley Baluyut is an Orange County based blogger and writer with a serious love for vintage clothing. You can find her at her fashion and lifestyle blog MILK TEETHS or you can catch up with her latest thrift haul vintage finds on YouTube at Three Feathers Vintage…
Ah, vintage clothing. The pieces have been lived in, are decades old, and have gone in and out of fashion, yet its these truths that make wearing and buying vintage clothing so wonderful. In fact, since I have a second I’m going to tell you my top three reason for why you should add some vintage clothing into your wardrobe.
Reason 1: They Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To
Compared to the practically disposable nature of a lot of clothing that is being made at present, vintage clothing can and has stood the test of time. I mean, it makes sense. Older clothes are usually made with better material because the “cheap” blended fabrics that are used today simply didn’t exist back then. This means that coats were made of good quality wool, dresses enforced with strong metal zippers, and blouses spun out of natural materials like cotton and silk. Also, skimping on construction was practically unheard of because clothing was made to last.
Reason 2: So I Can’t Find This In Stores Right Now??!
Buying vintage means purchasing a small bit of history, which is cool in its own right, but it also means that the chances of you running into someone else wearing your exact same outfit are practically non-existent. This built in fashion insurance is probably one of the biggest draws for me, personally. Nothing takes the wind out of your sail like spotting, in a single afternoon, three other girls wearing the same exact dress as you. You know, the one you bought because you thought it was so unique looking. D’oh!
Reason 3: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
Just because the piece’s previous owner grew out of their crushed velvet body con dress phase of their life doesn’t mean that the look is dead and buried. Luckily, since the very nature of fashion is cyclical what’s old will always become what’s new. It might take a few years, but it’ll happen. So instead of buying the “new” version of that hot new vintage inspired item, do a little detective work and see if you can track down the original piece. If the authenticity doesn’t put a little pep in your step while your wearing that vintage piece than I don’t know what will!
Interested in introducing a little vintage into your wardrobe? We kinda thought you might be! Check out the awesome vintage stock over at Karmaloop.
Check in next month for more shopping tips and styling tricks!
1 comment
Ash says:
Oct 11, 2011
I think reason three is why thrifting appeals to me most. I do not like when I’ve recently bought an item new and find something of similar style that is markedly cheaper. I have never shopped at a store that specifically sells *vintage* clothing items but it sounds like a must given the point about quality.