From À LA MODEST

What comes to mind when you think of Vintage clothing? Outdated pieces from your grandmother’s closet? Less-than-pleasant-smelling garments dug out from the bowels of a thrift store? Whatever it is that hipsters wear? A lot of people have a skewed vision of what it means for fashion to be vintage. While all of the above reactions are somewhat true, they are not as extreme as people think. Vintage clothing can be quite general. It can be something as simple as a throwback silhouette or a pattern hailing from earlier days, which is good news for vintage fashionistas in modern times.

See, if you have a narrow view of how to obtain vintage fashion, you might feel a bit stuck in your possibilities. If you’re just shuffling through thrift store racks, you could easily become discouraged in your search for wearable vintage threads. Luckily, though, thrift stores aren’t the only place to look. In fact, you can find beautiful pieces that scream classic style without even leaving your nearby mall! Today I’m sharing some tips for finding vintage clothing in today’s modern era.

JCrew Fall 2012

Know your cuts

Classic clothing can often be characterized by its distinct set of cuts. Depending on the era you’re going for, you’ll need to know what specific styles were trendy at that point in time. Peter Pan collars, for example, have been around since the 1900s, resurfacing in the ‘50s and again in the ‘70s. Knowing specific styles like this is your key to spotting retro fashion even in modern stores. The best part of all is the fact that many old trends come back in style every few decades, so you’ll probably find many “new” versions of an old look. A perfect example is the feminine bell-sleeved blouse from the ‘60s and ‘70s that’s now trending, according to Lyst.

Know your labels

If you do choose to go thrifting or to some secondhand stores, make sure you know the basics of true vintage labels and how to research them—PBS can help with that. Especially if you are a collector or value true vintage clothing, this note is very important. At the very least, you should know how to discern what pieces are garbage compared to those that are gems. Study the fabrics and ensure that they are durable, because used clothing already has many years under its belt.

Know how to wear it

In today’s day and age, we have become quite accustomed to the tailor-made sizing. Heck, we even know which exact stores a size 6 fits more like a 2. However, when purchasing real vintage pieces, you need to keep in mind Stylecaster’s tip that sizing was different back when the garment was made. You might need specific undergarments to make the piece fit correctly, simply because body standards have changed throughout time and require a specific body shape. Don’t say no to a piece you love just because it’s slightly off—think about what undergarments can enhance the fit.

Whether you’re shopping for high-end vintage clothing or want to find pieces at modern stores, it all comes down to being knowledgeable about the clothing and era you are seeking.

Remember these tips and most of all, don’t forget to have fun!