Tips, Tricks and Ways to Wear Vintage Pieces (And Still Look Modern)

Remember: These are not hard-fast rules for wearing vintage outfits! Utilize these tips and tricks as general guidelines for those who need a few rules to fall back on while getting started.
These rules are great for thrift beginners, those with sentimental pieces they don’t know how to wear, first steps in creating a sustainable wardrobe, or for the person who wants to add vintage style texture & uniqueness to their wardrobe while maintaining a modern aesthetic.

What is “Vintage”? 

How old is vintage clothing? Technically everything 20 years and older is considered vintage. Antique is 100+ years old.
Thrifting is not always vintage! It CAN be, but it’s often resale of still-modern pieces offered at steep discounts. Clothing tags sometimes contain additional information about your piece that can help you further determine if it’s vintage or not. Copyright years, union tags and more serve as important clues to date your clothing. Want a full rundown on how to date your clothing? Check out this helpful guide.

Look Edgy, not Antiquated! The 1-2 Rule:

If you’re just dipping your toes into vintage fashion style, try starting small. Incorporate only one or two vintage pieces into your ensemble and surround it with modern garments/accessories. The goal is to blend your vintage pieces into the outfit. Begin with one clothing piece, and (if desired) add one vintage accessory. This will ensure that your silhouette still reads as modern, while that one or two pieces in your outfit give your look a subtle, unique twist.

Example Modern Vintage Outfit Ideas: 
-If you’re wearing a vintage tee, pair it with a modern jean silhouette and jacket.
-Surround a vintage slip dress with sandals, a modern waist belt and jacket.
-Pair vintage trousers with a modern blouse and chunky loafers.
-Pair a vintage blouse with modern oversized trousers and belt.

The Emblematic Piece: 

Let a vintage accessory, dress or vintage outerwear define your outfit and give it edge.
If you have stunning family heirloom pieces, a storage box full of your grandmother’s old purses/kitschy jewelry (that’s way too cool to get rid of), or maybe you’re itching to wear that one funky piece you fell in love with at the vintage market: This tip is for you!
Our first rule was all about blending your piece in, but this one is all about letting it stand out. Let your piece act as a conversational statement! Contrast your statement vintage piece with non-distracting monochrome colors and modern jewelry, clothing or accessories.

Example Emblematic Vintage Outfits:
-Wear a vintage dress with a modern belt and jewelry. 
-Let a funky vintage coat top off a neutral outfit of modern basics.
-Let a chunky vintage necklace be the centerpiece of your next little black dress outfit. 

Consider the Trends: 

Are there certain silhouettes trending right now? Chances are, it’s been done already.
Want a slip dress? Try shopping pieces from the 1930’s or 1990’s.
Want in on the sheer trend? You’ll find luck with 1930’s-50’s dresses, and even 2000’s dresses.
Interested in trending drop waist dresses? Check out pieces from the 1920’s, 1960’s or 1980’s.
You might not initially know where a silhouette originates from – but with trusty resources like Google, you can always look up phrases like “What era are _____ from?” and you’ll likely find the answer right away!
Once you’ve found out the time period(s) that popularized your desired silhouette, you can search for dresses from that time period on vintage resale sites like Etsy. 

Take a look at this vintage 1930’s black sheer dress vs. a present day embellished lace midi dress from Simon Rocha:

Make Sure It Fits Properly: 

Vintage sizing is different. A modern US size 4 could be considered a vintage size 12!
It goes beyond just varying numbers; In many cases, factors like different shapewear (think pointy bombshell bras of the 1950s), garment construction and closures (think metal zippers, hook and eyes, buttons), and fabrics (stretch-potential, natural vs synthetic fibers, garment cleaning and deterioration) are all major influences on how your pieces rest on the body. Investing in the right shapewear, looking up how pieces were intended to be worn and knowing how to clean your garment properly are all game changers on how your piece will look.

What if it doesn’t fit? What if it’s falling apart? Take it to the tailor.

It’s no secret that well-loved vintage pieces may get worn over time. Check for damage and repair buttons, stains etc. as needed. Have you found that your vintage pieces feel frumpy, or are an awkward fit? Making a vintage piece work in your wardrobe may be as simple as getting it tailored!

Keep your Makeup Modern!

Remember that makeup is part of your outfit! Wearing modern styles of makeup will help solidify a modern look.

Get in on the Red Carpet & Events Trend: Tab Vintage:

Celebrities are using vintage pieces on red carpet as a “throwback to the past” trend. Tab Vintage is a top choice for access to runway pieces and unforgettable designer treasures.

Sabrina Carpenter wearing Madonna’s vintage Oscars dress at the 2024 VMAs, via Tab Vintage.

For In-Person Shopping: Pickwick Vintage

Enjoy a shopping wonderland in Los Angeles EVERY MONTH at Pickwick Vintage Show! This outdoor market is a full-on event of masterfully curated treasure-trove pieces.

Bi-Costal Favorite (LA/NYC): A Current Affair Market

You’re bound to walk away with something fabulous when you attend bi-costal event A Current Affair! Another well-curated favorite that makes itself accessible with events across the US. Take an insider look at Meg’s recent journey to A Current Affair on instagram!

Great All-Around curated vintage store: Arcade Vintage

With standalone stores in LA and NYC, as well as a shoppable online store; we love their ready-to-wear pieces that cross a lot of decades.

Best for Wedding (and Special Event): Kit Vintage

Best for Jewelry, Accessories, Bags & Belts: Crown Chic Vintage

Meg’s favorite for unforgettable vintage style belts and accessories! Find them at Pickwick Vintage Market or view new pieces on instagram.

The post How to Style Vintage Clothing to Look Modern appeared first on Madison to Melrose.

Sustainable fashion is more accessible than ever with big names like Net-a-Porte (See: NET SUSTAIN), Nordstrom (See: Nordstrom Sustainable) and H&M (See: H&M Conscious) paving the way with their promotion of recycled materials and sustainable sourcing. While we are excited about these ever growing environmentally friendly options – there are many other ways to create a more conscious closet, and we’ve compiled some of our favorites! Here are five tried and true ways to create a sustainable wardrobe. 

1. Hosting or Attending a Clothing Swap Meet

We asked LA Clothing Swap Meet host and attendee Annie Girard (instagram: @AnnieGirardYAY) to explain swap meets to us and divulge what elements create the most successful event! Annie explained that organizing the pieces people bring by type or size before the swap begins and using predetermined rules (such as a game, or drawing numbers from a hat) keeps a swap meet light and fun while allowing people to get things they may actually want. People can bring anything from clothing items they no longer wear to accessories and unused makeup samples. For hosting an event, have hangers, clothing racks and food and drinks to share! Any clothing not taken by the end of the night can be donated.
Hosting a smaller event as a girls’ night between friends can be especially successful if people share a similar sense of style, or ideal for giving away any sentimental pieces you no longer wear but feel guilty donating. For larger events, Annie says swap meets instill a warm sense of community between women.

2. Shopping Resale

Find pre-owned pieces for a chunk of the original price! Here’s a list of some of our favorite resale sites and shops.

TheRealReal.com is a valuable source for authenticated luxury consignment – great for both purchasing and selling!

Rebag.com is a Manhattan-based luxury bag consignment website and store with the option to buy, sell or exchange bags – Go from one handbag to the next with no regrets! In-store locations: LA, NYC and Florida.

Vestiairecollective.com is a French company dedicated to a sustainable approach to luxury fashion, taking a unique approach to consignment with it’s careful curation of desirable and expertly authenticated pieces. We love it’s strong international community that spans over 50+ countries!

With new arrivals every day, Tradesy.com is a reliable and popular authenticated luxe style consignment site that creates easy opportunity for you to sell and buy fabulous pieces! Free returns makes Tradesy a great stop for first-timers in luxury consignment.

With shops in Studio City, Los Angeles, Santa Monica and San Fransisco, Wasteland is a well stocked source for current pieces – great for men and women!

3. Shopping Vintage

Like shopping resale, shopping vintage is an easy way to snag covetable already-existing piece! Whereas you may see many seemingly unique, historically rich items in any given shop – you’ll want to find pieces that have withstood the test of time (See Article: How to Buy Vintage Clothes for Beginners). Risky pieces to buy vintage include belts and shoes especially – both of which have likely endured tension and wear-and-tear that leave pieces to fall apart soon after purchase. Despite any risks, there is high reward to finding a great vintage piece that no other person will be wearing out on the streets. Here are some thoughtfully curated sites and stores that specialize in selling reputable vintage we love!

Poshmark.com sells both resale and vintage! We especially love buying vintage on this site because the format includes in-depth descriptions, allows for plenty of product photos and has a comments section to allow for further questions about the product before purchasing. You can negotiate pricing and for further protection, Poshmark has an involved protection systems for refunds on misrepresented items, including pieces with undisclosed damage.

Resee.com is a resale and vintage site that has pieces from as far back as the 1920’s. We love this site for it’s beautiful product photos and easy site searchability.

Both online and on La Brea Avenue, this Los Angeles based vintage store is filled with unforgettable pieces fit for the stars!

4. Shop Your Closet

Now more than ever is a great time to shop your closet! There’s limited newness in store time of year, so dig up that vintage piece hidden in the back of your closet, or visit pinterest for new ways to wear last season’s top. See our post on reworking pieces you already have in your closet for cold weather outfit inspiration.

5. Rewear Your Cocktail and Black Tie

Find a new way to wear the pieces you’ve only worn for that one party or event. Pull out your LBD and re-work it with different jewelry! Add a different coat, leather jacket or blazer. Swap heels for boots!

This post is dedicated to Australia in lieu of the fires that have recently ravaged it’s southeast coast, in the states of New South Wales and Victoria. We believe that being mindful of our environment in everyday choices provide positive steps toward a brighter, greener future. If you feel inclined, we invite you to take a look at two verified Australian relief organizations whom are currently accepting donations that provide assistance to those affected in the tragedy.  

VICTORIAN BUSHFIRE APPEAL
“The Victorian Government has partnered with Bendigo Bank and The Salvation Army to establish the Victorian Bushfire Appeal. 100% of donated funds will go directly to communities in need. “
(description via www.vic.gov.au)

AUSTRAILIA ZOO WILDLIFE HOSPITAL
“Bindi Irwin, the daughter of famed wildlife conservationist and “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin, has been taking in many displaced animals at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, which is owned by her mother, Terri. “
(description via USAtoday.com)

The post 5 Ways to Create a Sustainable Wardrobe appeared first on Madison to Melrose.

For the men who resort to plain tees when the weather gets hot: We have some superior alternatives. The summer shirts of 2019 include fresh prints, unique collar shapes and throwback polos that’ll make you look like 1960’s James Bond. Whether it’s the beach, vacation or a weekend out – Beat the heat with these pieces that’ll impress your partner, friends and mother alike!

Trying to get your wardrobe summer-ready? Check out Meg’s styling services here.

Check out our pinterest board on Men’s Alternative to the Summer Tee here:

We’ve got you covered with picks from trusted style-guru brands like Orlebar Brown, Urban Outfitters & Zara. Shop the Summer Prints & Polos of 2019:

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