Searching successfully for vintage clothing is getting to be more of an uphill task these days, so, if you are a fashion and style enthusiast , with a passion for vintage clothing , you will know exactly what i mean.
If you have been rummaging through attic sales, garage sales or estate sales, looking for that unusual antique piece, without much luck, then vintage inspired and retro clothing is your next best choice.
The vintage inspired and retro clothing worth collecting are a bit up-end in some cases, but you can carefully choose each piece, and end up acquiring a great collection of classic pieces of art. I call them 'timeless'.
Vintage couture has now become bigger than ever as we see more and more bygone styles coming back onto the catwalks.
I started my collections of antique and vintage clothing many years ago. What i did back then, was to mix-and-match contemporary designs and pieces, with the vintage collections that I owned. From a 50's bakerlite bag, a Pucci print, of the '60s (they're always in style, especially in black and white), to a 1960 cut velvet chiffon dress with a matching jacket. I mixed them creatively with any new fashion style that came along.
However, it became more difficult for me to find unique items, and then i discovered that switching to vintage inspired creations became a wonderful alternative.
So, if like me, you have the same dilemma, just do the switch and discover a whole new world of antique and vintage couture re-incarnated.
Passion, and, demand for vintage clothing brought on the production of vintage inspired haute couture dresses and shoes. A vintage inspired piece of clothing is like an art reproduction, looks just as good, but costs much less than an original which is so hard to find. So its very affordable. Especially in these lean and hard times.
o Certain classic styles such as slouchy leather bags, off the shoulder and no shoulder minis, midis and maxi dresses, lace up boots and fabric shoes, to mention a minute few, are always fashionable and are available in vintage inspired options.
o To start off with new ideas, your first port of call should be the fashion magazines. Check on the latest fashion trends, the new cuts, textures, colours. Check out the vintage, retro, and indie fashions. This will give you a feel of what's going on out there fashion-wise.
o Check your Yellow pages for local stores and boutiques that carry vintage clothing. Look in these stores for books on antique and vintage apparels of the 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's or 80's. Check the designs and compare them to contemporary pieces fashioned after the vintage.
o Go online. Search the web for vintage haute couture clothing, and discover a world of information and photo images of designs that will open your imagination further.
o Discover the marriage of online shopping and video. There, you will experience the stories, creativity and depth that are largely absent from today's e-commerce. As an online shopper, you will discover unique items from designers, boutiques, artists, manufacturers and personalities, and you get a personal and entertaining look at the sellers and their products. This can help guide your decisions.
o Visit fashion shows, if you live in any of the major fashion cities around the world. Recently, catwalks in Paris, Milan, Tokyo, New York, Rome and London, displayed a whole host of distinctly wearable vintage inspired couture trends. Trends inspired by the antique and vintage. You shall surely see more of these in the months ahead.