5 Items To Start Your Vintage Wardrobe
Do you love the look of vintage clothing but don’t know how to style it? Perhaps you’ve always admired the fashion but never felt comfortable wearing it yourself? Maybe you have a few items sitting in your wardrobe right now that you LOVE but have never worn… That’s where we want to help!
Read below to see the best way to start your vintage fashion journey.
1960’s/70’s Antonio Lopez Art (1943-1987, American)
When buying vintage – either in person or online – it can be easy to jump at those one-of-a-kind items that have all the features, we’re talking big sleeves, loud patterns, or ruffled trims. They pull at us for a good reason; they’re just so fabulous.
However, buying on impulse when you haven’t figured out your vintage style often leads to a rack of unworn retro. So here are 5 items that can start the process of figuring what style, era, colour, and silhouette works for you.
1. In Vintage Jeans We Trust
I know, it seems overly simple and maybe a bit basic… but I’m afraid that’s exactly the point. When we talk about jeans, what we are really doing is building a base to compliment those more dazzling pieces. Why jeans? Because they’re timeless. They never go out of fashion, no, literally - Denim jeans have been functional since the 1870’s and fashionable since the 1950’s. This means there’s a lot of vintage styles out there just waiting for you. So, where to start?
If you’ve always wanted 70’s bellbottoms or flares, I’d start with a wide leg jean. It’s a similar aesthetic but the wide leg is much more forgiving in style and suits a wider range of body types.
If you have always worn skinny, I would try a straight leg. Contrary to current trends, I have nothing against a skinny jean, but you’ll find lot of vintage is top heavy (i.e. 80’s shoulder pads), so having a slightly looser fit on the legs helps to balance your outfit
Always preferred a loose fit? Mom jeans all the way. This style is tried and true, they’re a great mid-point between baggy styles or straighter fits, giving you a bit of range to explore.
Brands to start your search:
Levi, Lee, & Wrangler, the oldest jean brands that are still current and have a history that’s easy to look up.
TAXI & JAG, both iconic NZ brands that always look great.
Rocky Mountain – My personal favourite but are generally made for the taller person (that doesn’t stop me from rolling mine up, hah!)
Corfu, considered a rare find and can be on the more expensive side, but a great piece to own.
2. A Brilliant blouse
I can already read your mind; you’re thinking what difference does a blouse make? And it has bigger impact on how your wardrobe works together than you may think. The right blouse can go with multiple different items; it can be layered, styled, worn day-to-night and most importantly - highlights your personality. So, what types of vintage blouses are there?
The 80’s Businessman. This is a style that has recently made a comeback in women’s wear. The pastel colours, subtle pin stripes, oversized fit, and light fabric make this a great choice year-round. It can be styled open for summer looks or layered for winter wearing.
1960’s/70 Collars. We’re talking Dog Eared and Dagger, these two styles are iconic and immediately give your outfit a retro touch. They generally have wider range of colours and look good buttoned right up (my preferred style) or as an open collar.
Pussy Bows. Pussy bow collars work so well with modern wardrobe because they are a nice touch to a simple silhouette. Even though pussy bows have been popular since the 1930’s for their soft and feminine aesthetic, historically, it’s associated with women “occupying” male dominant spaces (golf courses, offices etc). Which I think makes them a pretty cool detail.
Statement Sleeves. Love or hate them, I think a good sleeve is a great way to incorporate vintage into your wardrobe. There’s so many to choose from; My favourites being: bishop, puff sleeve, trumpet, flutter, and leg of mutton. These each add a unique feel and are great for wearing by themselves or under a vest/dress.
Brands to start your search:
SUMMIT, For those 70’s dagger collars, 80’s oversized business shirts, and 90’s casuals.
KATIES, made in NZ/AUS, these are really sweet 90s blouses that I would always go for
Lady Lichfield, mostly 70’s blouses but dabbled in florals and fun prints.
ESCADA, a vintage designer brand that is often silk or luxe fabric.
3. Dress to Impress
Dresses are such a huge part of how fashion has transformed (and repeated) throughout time. There’s a lot of style options – which can be equally fun or overwhelming when you don’t know what styles suit you yet. When it comes to vintage, it can be easy to buy a spectacular dress and “save it for a good occasion”. For the sake of building a vintage wardrobe we love to wear, let’s talk day dresses.
1970’s Prairie. One of the most beloved silhouettes in the vintage community. They are femme and flowy, usually having some sort of frilled trim or puffed sleeve. If you already wear maxi dresses and lean into feminine styles, this could be a great option.
The Mini. A personal favourite, these MOD style dresses are always a bit of fun. Done best by the 1960s’s, 70’s, and 90’s. The retro style is for those who enjoy a bit more colour and detailing, while the 90’s did sleek chic mini dresses like no other!
The Day Dress. A bit of a broad category as “day dresses” from the 1940’s - 1990’s didn’t evolve very much. Typically, they’re short sleeved, reaching tea-length, they often have pleats, buttoned fronts, or come with a matching belt. These dresses have simple silhouettes which make them easy to wear to work, running errands, or out to brunch - they are a great go-to casual piece.
Slip Sensations. The trend that never stopped trending. Slip dresses, originating as under-dresses, hit the spotlight in the 90’s and we never looked back. I think these dresses (either fitted or loose) make for great staples. They can easily be styled casually with a tee underneath, jumper on top, and a pair of docs - or styled with heels and your favourite necklace.
Brands to start your search:
Frankie, A good NZ brand for more casual dresses.
Gunne Sax, A very famous brand for epic prairie pieces
Miss Deb, an iconic brand, especial 70’s era
Thornton Hall, always good quality, always unique and timeless.
4. Skirt Sensation
Including a vintage skirt into your wardrobe rotation is sure to be a winner. Luckily for us, one style of skirt or another is always in fashion and can be styled to your own taste. There’s plenty of fabrics out there, so it’s about choosing what works for you.
Denim. There’s a reason they have been worn on repeat for decades. You have the classic denim mini skirt, a mid-length, the maxi that’s trending or – for those brave enough – the micro mini. Denim is so easy to style, just treat it the same as you would your favourite jeans.
Wool (or acrylic wool) skirts have always been a winter favourite, most often found in a mid-length, like a 70’s plaid or 80’s geometric style. But we do regularly see 90’s miniskirts (think clueless) which are super fun to style and if you’re lucky, come with a matching jacket.
Leather & Suede. Made popular in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s, leather skirts have a certain cool girl feel that you’ll love. The 80’s really had their fun with an array of colours, but even a neutral leather skirt will make you feel fabulous.
Polyester/Crimplene. Polyester really took over the garment industry during the 60’s, which is why we see so many fun-coloured skirts after this era. From mini skirts to pencil skirts, full crimplene maxi’s and Asymmetrical midi’s; There’s so much option here.
Brands to start your search:
SYCAMORE, a good NZ brand for 70’s wool and plaid pieces
PAULLS, a go to for classic cut casual wear from the 90’s
PORTS International, another 90’s favourite for winter mini skirts.
JAG & Dachet, both great denim brands.
5. A Good Coat To Keep You Warm.
A jacket or coat can be looked at as an outfit-completer. It’s the final layer and the first impression someone will get when they pass you by. Sometimes we wear jackets that are purely practical and other times we only care about style. I’ll let you in on a little secret - when you wear vintage, you can achieve both in one. Let’s talk style.
The Bomber. Bomber jackets originate from war time but have been more than just practical ever since. They often are found in leather or wool, with the 80’s making a nylon/polyester “wind breaker” that remained a popular choice. Bombers tend to be a little top-heavy in style, so balance nicely with a wider pant.
The Blazer. The oversized blazer has been a recent hot topic, those 80s shoulder pads and scrunch up arms. This style is super cool, especially in a good tweed, but I know it’s not for everyone. If you prefer a sleeker fitted version, go for the 70’s or 90s, who did longer blazers (think 90’s romcoms).
The Trench. Who doesn’t love a trench? It’s highly practical in winter and looks so chic. Trench coats can be thicker like the 60’s, leather like the 70’s, oversized like the 80’s, or slim line like the 90’s. They all look great.
The Wool Classic. Wool/ mohair coats really are true staple to own. Most coats from the 40s – Early 70’s are very good quality and almost always have a satin lining so they don’t have that “wool itch”. A timeless piece that finishes off your outfit nicely.
Brands to start your search:
Donna Rae, very good quality coats, best seen in 50s-70’s pieces with wool and mohair.
Austin Brown, NZ brand that adapted to fashion of each era in wool/leather/polyester etc
SkinFits, even skinFits i’ve found has been high quality leather.
NALLA, always great for fur/faux coats.
Obviously, everyone has their own unique style and taste. Some styles will work for you and other won’t (even if you really want them to). The items I’ve listed are to give you a good base outfit, start your search of true vintage, and hopefully help you get more comfortable with wearing the items in your wardrobe on a daily basis.
Until next time, Vintage Lovers xx
