The passion for vintage fashion has quite simply become phenomenal!
Stylists, such as Rachel Zoe, made vintage a red carpet necessity and the iconic black cocktail dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the film Breakfast at Tiffany's fetched £410,000 at a recent Christie’s auction house in London.
But what is it that makes vintage so popular?
Firts of all, when you are wearing a vintage dress to a party you can be sure that nobody will look the same.
You can also be more creative and experimental with vintage clothes, and above all, you can have lots fun!
By ANNA HALSALL
"Vintage fashion looks best when working it into a modern look" says Hanna Wick, a fashion buyer at Harvey Nichols.
Remeber not to wear vintage head to toe; you'll end up looking like you're in fancy dress- she adds.
There are a few problem with vintage clothing. Expanding waist lines stop many of us from shopping for wonderful pieces. Marcelle Symons, founder of One a fantastic Notting Hill vintage boutique, found a solution to that problem- scissors. (One, 30 Ledbury Road Notting Hill, London W11)
Marcelle realised that vintage cuts don't suit today's women and that clothes often need "redoing". She will expand the waistband on a silk 50's dress, fix a new hemline on a 70's maxi dress and cut whatever needs rethinking.
Hanna says that Vintage fashion is timeless, therefore it is also ageless. Anyone can wear it, be it 16 or 60. However, the younger you are, the bolder you can be with it so my advise is for the more mature women to play it a bit more cautious to avoid looking old fashioned as opposed to in fashion.
Vintage is not only the dresses. Don't forget about accessories! Designers keep their romance alive with statement jewellery, and vintage costume jewellery is their favourite. Go wild with neckleces, brooches and earrings, accessories will update your wardrobe and make it more original.
Vintage expert Mairead Lewin argues that "Vintage should look like it came off straight from the catwalk not from a set of a BBC period drama" Try to remember that and have fun!
Clockwise:
1. Joan Patou Coat dress,
Available from atelier-mayer.com
2. Valentino Boutique late 1980's dress,
Available from kerrytaylorauctions.com
3. BIBA 1970's nude dress,
Available from atelier-mayer.com
4. GIVENCHY clip-on earrings,
Available from atelier-mayer.com
5. Vintage Dress
Available from beyondretro.com
6. GIVENCHY pendant,
Available from atelier-mayer.com
