A common concern I hear from people who have yet to take the plunge into the world of vintage clothing is that, if they do, they will look like they are wearing a costume.

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First of all, let me preface this by stating that there is nothing wrong with looking like you’re wearing a costume when you’re not. Personally, I absolutely adore when someone’s style treads that line between theatricality and reality and I’m all for wearing whatever it is that you feel good in, especially if what you feel good in is an expression of your spirit and creativity.

Of course, not everybody feels that way, and a common concern I hear from people who have yet to take the plunge into the world of vintage clothing is that, if they do, they will look like they are wearing a costume. Here are 5 tips for wearing vintage while avoiding exactly that.

1. Pick garments that look like current trends. As a vintage seller, I can tell you that lots of modern designers and fashion houses have massive archives of vintage garments that they are constantly adding to and from which they draw inspiration. In fact, most contemporary fashion is really a reinterpretation of styles from the past, and you would be surprised how close a lot of modern designer clothing comes to replicating older garments. Finding and wearing one such garment is an easy way of avoiding a costume-y look.

2. Contemporary hair and makeup. Chances are, unless you are dedicating hours to recreating precise vintage hairstyles and makeup application, your hair and makeup are already going to look comparatively modern. Simplicity in hair and makeup is a tried and true way of grounding a vintage outfit, such as wearing a 1950’s dress with a slicked back ballerina bun or pairing an Edwardian blouse with a subtly smoky eye. Even contemporary versions of classic hairstyles will update a look while still giving a nod to the appropriate era; modernized 1940’s loose waves — which have been a Hollywood favorite for the past couple of years — are a great example.

3. Modern accessories. Pairing vintage clothing with decidedly modern shoes, bags and sunglasses is an easy way to dramatically ground an otherwise whimsical garment. It is easy to keep the overall look streamlined by picking a color that is present in the garment and wearing contemporary accessories in the same color. Of course, pops of vibrant color paired with all black accessories (or vice versa) is also a quick way to modernize a classic vintage garment.

4. Mixing vintage and new separates. Years ago, while waiting in line at a coffee shop, I saw a woman wearing a white Edwardian blouse with a zip up sweatshirt and torn up jeans and I still consider her to be one of the best examples I’ve seen of wearing vintage and new separates in a way that is both very modern and entirely unique (wherever you are, mysterious lady, you are still my #1 girl crush.) Mix-n-matching vintage and new separates is probably the easiest way of beginning to work vintage into your wardrobe, as well as a simple way of taking a very special, fancier vintage piece and making it more wearable for day.

5. Mixing eras. Even when wearing head-to-toe vintage, accessories included, it is possible to accessorize in ways that make your outfit seem more relevant. Mixing eras can, surprisingly, have the same effect as blending new and vintage pieces. Unexpected pops of vibrant color, surprising combinations of textiles and silhouettes and layers of contrasting patterns always serve to make an outfit appear both uniquely modern and totally timeless. In fact, mixing eras may just be the most fun and exciting way to wear vintage!

Have you ever been curious about vintage stores full of amazing treasures, unique pieces and designer originals but have been worried you might end up looking like an extra from a period movie set? There are many reasons to love vintage clothing: from the unique design, quality fabrics & tailoring, to the historical value and, of course, the ability to score designer attire at a fraction of the price.

But incorporating these one-off beautiful pieces into your wardrobe can be a challenge: how do you wear vintage clothes and still look current and stylish?

Now, before we dive into the tips and tricks I’ve got for you, let me say that wearing head to toe vintage can look stunning, breathtaking and traffic-stopping. But this is a commitment to just one style period not many of us are prepared to make so here are 5 tips if you are looking for some interesting ways to incorporate vintage pieces into your current wardrobe.

FORGET PERFECTION

40’s, 50’s and 60’s fashion has one thing in common: perfection in every detail, from immaculately ironed clothes to skillfully coiffed hair. The easiest way to create a “fresher” outfit is to break through this impeccable styling and to go for a messier, nonchalant look. Go ahead and pop that collar, roll up the sleeves or go for a messier hair bun. The whole outfit shouldn’t look like you’ve tried too hard… easy-breezy-beautiful.

CONTRAST WITH DENIM

Mixing your vintage pieces with denim is one of the easiest ways to break up a head-to-toe classic look. This is especially true for more dressier items you might want to wear in the day time. Denim immediately adds a casual element and updates any vintage item.  For example, try to pair a vintage blazer with a pair of “boyfriend jeans” and trainers or 40’s full skirt with a denim jacket.

MIX FORMAL WITH CASUAL

A little variation on the previous point, but one of the most difficult to achieve in a balanced way. If you look at photos of street-style fashionista’s you will notice an effortless mix of formal and casual styles. Use these looks as an inspiration. For example, an 80’s pencil skirt can be worn with a fresh white T-shirt or with an oversized sweater. You could get really creative and experiment not just with the pieces from your own wardrobe but also with the ones from your partner.

 NATURAL HAIR AND MAKEUP

One of the quickest ways to style a vintage outfit in a fresh and current way is to keep hair and makeup neutral. Avoid a full-on theatrical makeup and hair and stick to natural styling for a modern look. This is an especially good tip for when you don’t have so many items to mix and match, like when you are wearing a dress or a pantsuit.

BLEND DECADES

Perhaps the most difficult tip to get right is to mix decades in one outfit. The best way to get this right is to just practice, practice and practice. Sometimes, the most wonderful unexpected results come from a lot of trial and error. Try to not just mix the pieces but their traditional wearing order to get the most interesting looks: why not to wear a 90’s T-shirt or a thin sweater under a 40’s dress or throw a modern parka jacket over a 50’s dress. Go wild, you know you want to!

Do you love vintage clothing, but you are nervous to wear them because you are afraid of looking vintage yourself? In this video I’m going to tell how to wear vintage but not look old.

I love vintage clothing and accessories and over the years, vintage clothing has become really fashionable. In fact, you will often see vintage inspired clothing around in stores. But how do you wear the clothing so you don’t look like you are living in a time warp?

Don’t try to do your era the same way twice. For example, I was a teen in the 80’s and when I think back to the things I owe, I cringe. But even with the 80’s coming back, I won’t wear the same things in the same way. Big hair example.

Mix vintage with modern: Going all out vintage can make you look like you are going to costume party. Mixing vintage with modern will give it a contemporary edge and a style that is uniquely yours.

For example, I love this green leather jacket that comes from the 70’s. I wear it with a pair of jeans for casual or these printed pants for a bold look.

Vintage doesn’t have to look old: This leather coat I bought in Milan at the vintage market is still in great condition. In fact, you might not know it’s vintage unless I told you so. Look out for good quality vintage pieces.

If it is old and needs repair, have it fixed: Some vintage pieces look stylishly worn and some just look old. If it looks old, either fix it or get rid of it.

Wear vintage inspired pieces: This is a great way to add modern styling to vintage looks. For example, as you may know by now, I love the wrap dress and sell many of them in my own collection. This dress definitely has a 70’s inspired print, which is why I love it, but it isn’t vintage.

How can I start wearing vintage without feeling like I’m wearing a costume?

Start by choosing just one vintage item and pair it with contemporary items. Most of the time people won’t even realize you are wearing vintage. Did you know that almost all contemporary designs are inspired by vintage pieces?

Choosing vintage accessories is a great beginner’s way of dipping your toes into the vintage pool.

Why should I choose to wear vintage clothing?

Vintage clothing is often higher quality with better tailoring and attention to details. The fabrics are mostly natural such as cotton, silk, linen or wool and more comfortable to wear. Corners were rarely cut when creating vintage pieces. Items will have finished seams, linings, pockets, etc.

Vintage clothing creates a strong personal sense of style. No one else will look like you.

 Is vintage clothing expensive?

Vintage clothing can be expensive, especially if you are after designer pieces but generally you will pay less for vintage than you would pay for a similar quality piece purchased retail.

Were can I buy vintage clothing?

You can sometimes find vintage pieces at thrift stores, estate sales or you can shop retail for vintage clothing at independent stores in your city. You can also shop for vintage online through Etsy where I also have my store, Vintage By Suzanne.

How can you tell if an item is vintage?

Look at the label. Most vintage pieces will be made in a country other than China or Vietnam.

Vintage labels look different from our contemporary labels. This is a great article on how to date vintage clothing from the label and shows examples of vintage labels.

What should I be aware of when buying vintage clothing?

Understand that the older the piece the more fragile it will be. Here are some things to check and be aware of.

  • Make sure to check the seams. Sometimes these may need to be reinforced.
  • Look for moth holes. Hold the item up to the light and turn it inside out. Normally when you find one moth hole you will find others.
  • Check the closures. Make sure all the buttons are there and the zipper works correctly.
  • Try it on. Most of the time I don’t spot problems or stains until I’ve tried on the piece.
  • Many stains are superficial and can be removed quickly with Oxyclean stain remover. Be aware however that certain stains such as sweat or oil can be very difficult to remove.
  • Occasionally vintage clothing may have an “old” smell attached to it. I have an easy solution to removing all bad smells from clothing here. Alternatively, you can have the piece dry-cleaned.
  • If you buy your vintage item from a thrift store be sure to remove any surface stains by spot cleaning and then put the item (dry) in your dryer on high for thirty minutes. This removes any chance of bed bugs. I recommend washing the item too if possible. Generally items bought via thrifting have not been cleaned.
  • If you can’t wash the item though, a quick spray with Febreeze and then a toss in the dryer on high for thirty minutes will freshen the item quickly.

Vintage Clothing

Vintage is used to describe items which were made in the 1920s or later (but not later than 20 years before the present year). It refers to the age of the item, rather than the style of it. People often make the mistake of calling a modern-day 1920s flapper dress from a fancy dress store ‘vintage’, but unless it was made 20 years ago (or earlier), it’s not vintage. Even though it might have an old style, it cannot be vintage if it was manufactured in the last 20 years.

Now, in 2016, anything made between 1920 and 1996 is technically vintage, although it doesn’t mean that everything has a ‘vintage’ appeal. Fur coats, for example, were highly popular in the 1960s, and since they were made during this era too, they are now considered vintage. Fur coats are appealing to many fashion lovers, despite the controversy which has surrounded them since the 1980s. A regular blouse from 1955 doesn’t have the same appeal as a fur coat.

It’s not limited to just clothes either – the word ‘vintage’ can be used for clocks and other ornaments (such as lava lamps made in the 1970s), as well as radios, cars, cabinets and jewelry.

Interestingly, the word originated from the French ‘vendage’, which means ‘grapes picked during a season’. It was first used to describe old wine.

The majority of vintage wearers have, in their lifetime of wearing vintage, experienced various reactions from members of the general public. Sometimes these reactions can be simply genuine curiosity at an obviously different fashion choice, and sometimes, unfortunately, it can be negative. Probably one of the most universally asked questions, is “Are you wearing a costume?” or something to that effect. In my case (several years ago) it was, “So you are dressed like this . . . why?” – implying that there had to be some kind of external reason as to why I was wearing that 1950’s hat, fur collar, wool coat and high heeled pumps.

My answer: “Because I like it.”

Many people seem to think that anyone who dresses outside of the societal norm, simply must be wearing a costume. Someone wouldn’t be wearing a hat and gloves and a dress like, for real, would they?

I’ve been thinking about this lately, and trying to figure out my thoughts about it. I would suggest that, while I don’t really like the term “costume”, to some extent, anyone who dresses outside of the mainstream, is in fact putting on some sort of specific persona. It is easy to dress in the fashions of the day (look in every store and you’ll find some kind of iteration of the trends) but it is a conscious choice to dress differently than every one else. Whether you are wearing vintage style, goth, rockabilly or any other alternative style, you are saying something about yourself to those who see you.

After much thought (OK actually not that much thought, but some discussion with my mom!), I think it all comes down to your reason for wearing it.

How we choose to dress, tells a story about us. Your clothes can tell people, “I’m a rebel”, “I want to blend in”, “I want to be different” or even simply “I like old stuff”.

If someone were to look at me, they might not be surprised to learn that I also like classic novels, painting, antique furniture and old houses. My clothing has given them a glimpse into what kind of person I am; or at least the image that I want to present to the world.

Choosing to dress differently does raise questions, though, and like I said the most common one is, why are you wearing a costume?

Wearing vintage, or another alternative style, though, is a lifestyle. At least it is for me, and many others. The decision to wear vintage style, as your “regular” clothes changes it from being a costume that you put on only at certain times, to being an expression of your own style personality. You don’t have to wear vintage 24/7 either, in order for it to not be a costume for you. While it might be a putting on of a persona, it is also a reflection of your own style and personality. To those people who question you, it is a costume to them, because they can’t imagine themselves wearing it; it is foreign and uncommon. To many people it is unheard of that these could be your “real” and “normal” clothes. (But, what is normal anyways?)

When I, and many others, wear vintage styles we are not just trying to be different. There are plenty of styles I could wear that would achieve the same purpose, but would definitely not be “me”. Wearing Steampunk is probably very fun- but it’s not something I would personally choose to do!

And you know what? I sometimes put together an outfit which I think looks great in my head, and doesn’t really come out that way when I wear it. Something is just not right with it, and so it does end up feeling a bit like a costume. This outfit here is one example of an outfit that came out as just too much. To me personally, I would like to stress. Even though others might think, “that’s so you- it’s got a vintage touch, pearls and a hat”- to me, this was a costume.

I look at this outfit, and I know that I was playing dress up. (Which I was; we just wanted to experiment with taking photos in this location, so I grabbed a few things and threw them on) I would never wear this outfit in real life; the twill trousers are far too casual to be wearing with this hat and blouse, and the hat doesn’t go with anything. If I were to tweak this into an actual outfit, I would pair the blouse with navy blue wool trousers or a skirt, my camel coloured blazer to coordinate with the hat, and I would probably take off the long strings of pearls replacing them with a single strand. That’s just me. Someone else might wear this, and they’d love it!

Ultimately, each person must decide for themselves what the line is between “different” and “costume”. Fashion is supposed to be fun, so if you feel like wearing a costume out and about, there’s no one stopping you! Sometimes you just want to dress up! But, if you are trying to determine whether something is clothing for you or whether it’s a costume, here are some questions you could ask yourself:

  • Do you feel more confident wearing this outfit?
  • Are you constantly thinking about what people are thinking about your outfit? I’m not talking about shyness, and sometimes feeling a little awkward because you look different. I mean: are you completely uncomfortable because all you can think about is what other people are thinking of your outfit?
  • Are you absorbed with your outfit and fussing with it constantly? Aka- you don’t actually feel comfortable wearing it. Once you put on an outfit, you should not be preoccupied with it, if it’s just clothes.
  • Is it an expression of things that you like? Or are you wearing it simply because it’s “vintage”, but not because you actually like it?
  • Are you just waiting for the moment you can get home and change into something else?
  • Are you drawn to a certain era or style, but this outfit is just too much? For example, someone might wear 1920’s styles, but they might not dress completely like a flapper with a headband, pearls, fringed dress and all.
  • Do you enjoy wearing this? Is it fun for you? Is it the right expression of your personality? For the same reason I wouldn’t dress goth, you might not want to dress a certain way either.

Well, I hope that these thoughts may have helped you to think through what defines costume vs. style for you.

There’s a lot of misconception out there on vintage or retro style. Many people think they can’t pull it off.  Others are afraid they’ll look out of place, or draw too much attention to themselves.  And still others are unhappy with their total look because they feel too much like they’re in fancy dress or costume.

We all have those random days when things don’t come together quite as well as we had hoped, but here’s some simple tips from me on how to not look costumey when wearing vintage or vintage inspired clothing.

For me, those are the top two ways I see vintage fashion worn.  There’s no right or wrong answer here- it’s all up to you and what you want to do with your look.  If you’re going for head to toe period- it’s time to dig into those original period sources.  If you’re going for a vintage inspired look, let overall aesthetic be your guide.

In the way you’ve dressed previously, what have been your favorite looks?  Chances are, if your past style sense had a general “feel” to it, you can find an equivalent in vintage fashion.  Are you a tomboy?  A girly girl?  Avante Garde artist?  Sensible and practical?  A career woman?  Well, regardless of what your lifestyle is, chances are there’s a vintage equivalent to you.  1920’s girls didn’t all wear fringe, 1930s girls didn’t all wear bias cut gowns, and 1950’s girls didn’t all wear poodle skirts.  So go poke around online (I suggest pinterest), and if one look grabs you instantly as something you would wear in real life, add it to your pin board.  There’s no real “right” or “wrong” way to dress in an era, because there were so many different styles in every single decade.  In fact, old magazines suggested you dress by “type”, just like fashion magazines of today.

There’s a reason you find these at somewhat racy lingerie stores.  Yes, they did very occasionally wear them, but, if you must wear stockings, search out nude ones with nude seams.  You don’t need to scream to the world “Look!  I’m wearing seamed stockings!” because they’re so contrasted in tone.  There should be a sort of overall aesthetic to your look, and perhaps people won’t even realize you’re wearing seamed stockings if they’re nude on nude, but it will just look *right*.  After all, you want to evoke a look in entirety, not break up the eye to a bunch of randomly “correct” details.  Harmony, simplicity, and natural looks.  Which brings me to…

What’s going to speak the most out of the outfit you’re wearing?  Is it your dress print?  Your crazy novelty pin?  Your bakelite bangles? Your crazy hat?  I’m ALL for crazy, loud, and novelty print.  But the thing that keeps you from looking costumey is picking ONE statement thing.  Maybe two.  But certainly not more than three.  For example- crazy hat, crazy brooch, solid dress- works.  Crazy hat, crazy print dress, crazy brooch- doesn’t work in general (sure, there are the rare exemptions).  If in doubt, keep it simple.  Sometimes red lipstick is enough of a statement in itself.

How do you feel when you’re wearing your outfit?  Do you feel like yourself, or do you feel like you’re charading as someone else?  Are you self conscious, or are you confident?  Our clothes can do amazing things for us.  But they can also make us feel out of sorts.  I think a lot of this comes down to practicality.  For example- I can’t clomp around in 3″ heels.  Ok, so I can for a VERY short time.  But i’m a klutz, and chances are I’ll trip over myself.  I would have to consciously watch my step and make sure I’m not going to trip/fall/make a general spectacle of myself.  If you’re thinking about a single article of your clothing more than you are what you’re doing or enjoying the company you’re with, it’s time to re-think that choice.  Sometimes it’s as simple as adding insoles or heel grips to a shoe, or holding a hat in place with a hat pin, or finding a lipstick that doesn’t go all over the place when you eat (and how do we always get it either on our chin or on our teeth?  Ok, maybe it’s just me).  But your style should appear conscious but effortless, and part of that is finding pieces that fit in with you and your lifestyle.

It should be simple in essence, but sometimes it’s not.  One you’ve got one you’ve found that works for you and your face shape, you’re good to go.  It’s ok to do it over and over, or variations on that hairstyle, if it works.  Like clothing, there’s no “right way” to do hair for any given time period.  Check out photos of real people if you’re intimidated by the super polished looks you see other bloggers, or movie stars, wear.  Not everyone needs to have perfectly polished victory rolls to have vintage style.  And if you’ve got a flat spot, just add a hair flower or hair ornament, or hat.  People will think it’s intentional.  Really.  Just keep in mind pointer #3 when you look at the overall look.

Some people can pull off the super dramatic makeup or pin-up style. I can’t.  If you also can’t, I’m here to tell you there’s hope for us.  Go by the old standby- pick what’s the focus- lips or eyes.  Red lips, simple eyes.  Bold eyes, simple lips.  You don’t need concealer + foundation + powder, unless that’s what you normally do.  My old standby for makeup is red lips, nude eyes with medium brown crease, and maybe eyeliner if I’m feeling adventurous.  And if you aren’t comfortable with red lips, that’s totally ok!  There were a variety or red, pink, and corals that were worn through many different vintage decade.  I often wear a lip stain instead of a lipstick, even when doing daily vintage inspired looks, and you know what?  It totally works.

This is probably not something that comes up too often on style tips, but one of the big things that makes something look more costumey than like clothing is the fit.  If you see sets of wrinkles going across any part of your body, it’s probably too tight.  If it doesn’t hug your curves or if it droops, it’s probably too loose.  Find something in the middle and the fit is just right.  There’s not much we can do about too tight, so if you’re faced with the choice ALWAYS get the one that’s a little too big.  You can either take it in yourself, or go to a tailor and get it altered to fit you perfectly.  It is an extra step and sometimes an extra expense, but it’s SO worth it to have clothing that fits you just right.  If you’re not sure where to find a place that does alterations, ask a local dry cleaner or do a search for alterations in your area.  And if it’s vintage, make sure you tell them to not cut out the extra fabric that’s there after the seams or hems are taken in- there may be a time you want to let it out later!

We all have things we don’t like about our appearance or body type, but instead of festering about that, why not turn that around to something positive?  What’s something you LOVE about the way you look?  Do you have a tiny waist?  Emphasize it!  Great décolleté?  Wear more boat necks.  Long legs?  You can look tall and elegant in trousers and knee length skirts.  Pretty hair?  Add ornaments some pretty comb or flowers to your hear, or wear hats that really make everyone look at your hair.  Love the color of your eyes?  Wear colors close to your face that bring out that color.  Underplay the points you don’t like, emphasize the ones you do like.  And if someone pays you a compliment, don’t tell them what you don’t like about yourself or your look- just kindly say “thank you!” and give them a big smile 🙂

Once you’ve selected your look for the day, embrace it.  Don’t fuss in every mirror.  Don’t wonder if people are looking at you.  If people compliment you, give them big smile, look them in the eye, and thank them.  If they ask you funny questions “Are you in a play?”,  or ask a question or make a comment on your style, just be kind back and tell them you just like to wear vintage styles.  Most people are just curious, and some may even want to take up the look themselves!  Don’t take every notice as something negative.  Feel good about your choice, and just keep on enjoying your life.  Confidence and happiness are contagious 🙂