The advantage of the vintage look this season
Fashion lore usually dictates that what was in style last season will almost certainly not surface on the fashion scene again for several years (more if you’re lucky; remember the re-invented 80’s neon craze of autumn just past?).
The fickle world of catwalk and fashion house couture holds enormous influence over what most of us high street shoppers will be wearing for the following season, though we may not believe it. High street fashion follows catwalk trends closely and thankfully for those of us without a designer budget, Topshop, French Connection, Warehouse and the like offer their own brand of cheaper alternative designer attire.
According to Vogue - and you won’t believe this girls - the meringue is back! Oops, sorry… I meant ‘ruffles and pleats.’ I haven’t worn so frilly a dress since I was May Queen attendant at primary school (the May Queen came out of it worse than me). Don’t be surprised when in a couple of months time there are stock piles of such dresses in Topshop. The ‘ruffles and pleats’ craze that will shortly follow is one that I shall not be sorry to see pass.
Of all trends, there is one that I cannot forgive the high street for replicating. That is the wonderful world of vintage. True vintage style is timeless though difficult to define. Perhaps it is best described thus: “A thrown together jumbled ensemble that is pretty, unique and reminiscent of times gone by.”
There are many wonderful eras from which to pluck inspiration for your vintage outfit because vintage style spans decades. It can be at once a flapper dress with feathered hair decoration yet also a 1940’s printed dress in the style of the Bloomsbury Group. It can be an art nouveau brooch from the turn of last century or a black and white mini dress from the 60’s. It could be a Victorian ruffle blouse with cameo at the neck or a pink prom dress from the 1950’s. Never has one fashion style incorporated so many different looks. And it’s charm lies in the fact that the vintage style came about almost by accident! It simply requires picking the most interesting and pretty pieces from previous eras.
What I love most about vintage style is it’s exclusiveness. Find a vintage piece in a charity shop, at a jumble sale or on ebay and you are unlikely to ever bump into anyone wearing the same thing. When I wear my gold and yellow crystal necklace from the 1920’s I’m constantly asked where I bought it from. I enjoy a satisfying sense of smugness when replying, “From a second hand shop,” for I’m probably correct in assuming that only one has survived and that it’s now hanging around my neck.
Vintage doesn’t have to be expensive. For example, Carrie Bradshaw who looked fabulous in her “$7 dress and $200 shoes” (the dress was vintage). I think the best way to ‘work’ the style is to invest in one or two beautiful vintage pieces that you can then team with less expensive items (it’s also cheaper than kitting yourself out head to toe in vintage clothing). Topshop is great for such fashion staples; black vest tops, printed shirts and fitted blazer-style jackets.
These can then be teamed up with the little gems you often find in charity shops or car boot sales (or, of course, you may be lucky enough to come across some rare finds in your attic at home). The age-old saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” could not be more accurate!
If you are unsuccessful in your vintage hunt, there are a range of specialist boutiques hidden away in the back streets of York which can be a wonderful treasure trove for clothing and accessories. Priestleys, on Grape Lane, offer a particularly nice range of pretty silk and cotton lingerie from the turn of the last century. There is also a generous offering of silk gloves, handkerchiefs, bead necklaces, clutch purses and hats dotted around the shop.
Men, too, can follow the Vintage trend. Designer shops, such as Sarah Coggles on Low Petergate, provide a good selection of vintagestyle clothing, including velvet jackets, corduroy trousers and soft suede shoes. Robert Smart Menswear should also be explored for fashionable men’s accessories; although many items are quite pricey, it is worth investing in either a smart chenille scarf or silk tie to complete the vintage look.
(C.S.)
