The second-hand clothing market is expected to grow to $77 billion in the next five years as estimated by ThredUp. This trend demonstrates that people not only have eyes and understanding of this kind of sustainable fashion but also appreciate the practice. Whether it is your first time engaging in using vintage clothing or you have been doing it for quite some time Cinderella Goes Thrifting should be your place to go for trendy and fun vintage clothing.
Following are some ways you can mix and match new and vintage clothes.
Understanding Vintage Clothing
What Qualifies as Vintage?
According to usage, clothes that belong to the category of vintage must be at least 20 years old. These pieces are usually the representations of the style, the material used, and construction methods of different periods. If you intend to shop for vintage you might find terminologies like retro or antique used to describe some of the clothing pieces you are likely to find in the market; the former is clothing items that mimic the styles of earlier time periods and the latter is clothing that is at least 100 years old.
Why Choose Vintage?
Vintage clothing offers several benefits:
– Sustainability: Wearing recycled clothes means that it will slowly reduce the production of new clothes.
– Unique Styles: Authentic products from the past have better and different forms of fashion that are hard to get in present apparel.
– Historical Value: Wearing vintage is like having a part of history as all the outfits have a history of their own.
Start with Basics
While incorporating such products into your wardrobe, begin with fundamentals that can be coordinated with the current fashion. For example:
- Vintage Denim: It becomes easy to mix the old with the new, for example, a pair of vintage jeans can easily be worn with a modern-day top.
- Classic Blazers: Any new dress/top can look over-accessorized when a vintage blazer is worn with it.
- Retro Tees: Vintage T-shirts can be worn with modern-styled jeans or skirts.
Balance Proportions
The most important aspect when it comes to proportions is that there has to be a good flow from one area to the other. If you are wearing a wide flared vintage skirt then you should wear a bodycon modern cropped blouse. On the other hand, if you are in a loose-fitting vintage blouse, then accompany it with slim-leg pants or a contemporary skirt.
Color Coordination
When you decide to combine items of new and older generations, consider the problem of color matching. Do not use a mix of different colors to avoid looking a little messy in your outfit. It belongs to safe territory, but one could try to add a large portion of different and intense colors if one has a good feeling for fashion.
Mix Textures
It is also possible to incorporate different textures meaningfully into the same outfit to make the look more interesting. For instance, wear a fifty’s silk blouse with today’s blue denim or wear a fifties wool coat with today’s cotton dress material. Combining coarse and smooth materials is also appropriate in the process since it ensures that there is a blend of textures that produces good-looking furniture.
Accessorize Thoughtfully
Additional things such as handbags, belts, hats, jewelry, and shoes can either complete or mar a look. Combine vintage clothing pieces with today’s accessories or vice versa, combine today’s clothing pieces with retro accessories. For example:
- Modern Belts: Any belt that is chic and trendy will help to bring a youthful feel into a dress that is classical.
- Vintage Jewelry: The desired dress: a new outfit with a touch of the classical style of antique jewelry.
“Where Can I Find Vintage Clothing?”
Online Marketplaces
Some of the places where one can get vintage clothes include the internet, specifically online stores such as Etsy, eBay, and ThredUp. These platforms help you shop without having to step out and the item may be well described and even have pictures.
Vintage Boutiques
Fashion stores, specifically vintage stores, refer to clothes that are second-hand but in good quality. Despite this, these stores tend to be expensive; nonetheless, there is always stock that is very valuable.
Estate Sales and Auctions
Auctions and estates can also be ideal places to locate outfits that were from the past since they are sold for very cheap prices. Such events are usually single-person collections featuring a diverse range of styles and time periods.
Creating a Signature Style
Experiment with Different Eras
It is not necessary to stick to one single epoch when mixing vintage in your wardrobe. Do not stick to only one decade’s fashion but try out different fashions of different decades as you settle for the best one that suits you most. Suddenly you may find out that you appreciate the styles of the fifties, the free spirit of the seventies, or the brawn of the eighties.
Be Confident
When matching new and old clothes, confidence is all that one needs. Be proud of the fashion decisions made, and wear them with self-confidence. It cannot be denied that being comfortable in what you wear, tends to shine through.
Tailoring and Alterations
It is always often that one gets the perfect vintage clothes that fit in the right size without having to alter them. Do not think that you have to stick to the sizes that you see on the clothes; you can always take the items that you bought to a tailor to get them fixed to fit you well and also accentuate your body figure. It’s important to note that a garment from the past if properly adjusted to the owner’s body type, would not look any less modern than any new piece of clothing.
Maintenance and Care
Proper Storage
That is why the clothes of the past years are sometimes different, and it is better to take them to specialists or carefully wash them at home. Preserve bottles in a cool dry environment with direct access to sunlight as it may spoil the wine. For clothes that may shrink or stretch and also for nicer items storage hangers with padding and covered garment bags should be employed.
Cleaning
When you have old clothes, note that you should always check the labels on how to wash them. Depending on an item, it may have to be washed by hand or there are specific dry clean only clothes. Handle fabrics that are sensitive to tear or wear with care so that they do not get damaged.
Repairs
Be sure to check for any signs of damage or other signs that the vintage pieces are starting to wear out. This is where you need to prove to the satisfaction of the examiner that each seam, hem, and button has been checked on a regular basis. Quick mending can help keep your retro outfits looking as good as the day you put them on and not deteriorate as fast.
Conclusion
Wearing modern and second-hand clothes together is a perfect idea, which helps to dress currently fashionable while respecting the environment. In understanding vintage clothing, the different types of vintage clothing, and the colors and texture of the clothing and other accessories, one can be able to mix new clothing with vintage ones.