How to Rev Up Your Summer Wardrobe with Smart, Chic Looks from the Past
Ever find yourself rummaging through your closet for that perfect summer outfit, only to find you have nothing to wear? It’s not that you don’t have clothes — and plenty of them! — but rather that you’re uninspired: maybe what’s new and trendy is falling flat, or you’re just plain bored with your warm weather wardrobe. In either case, one antidote to this lack of inspiration is to look to the style icons of the past. Whether you feel more drawn to the demure, feminine feel of 50’s fashion, the bohemian chic aesthetic of the 1970’s, or even the signature “dressed-up grunge” look of the 1990s, everything old is new again!
The obvious next question is whether to go all in with actual vintage pieces, or instead style modern pieces in classic ways. It’s up to you, but consider that most vintage apparel is very high-quality, because pieces were often handmade and well-tailored with details that speak to that quality. On the other hand, there are plenty of accessories out there you can style to look vintage, like customizing your own pair of sunglasses or “distressing” certain clothing items.
The Details & Basics of Dressing Vintage
So where to start? Dresses are an obvious and easy summer staple for every event — from beach to BBQ to the next quarterly meeting — and thanks to a growing number of online shops specializing in vintage and vintage-look fashion, there’s no limit to what you can find. For instance, a full-skirted boatneck dress– whether it’s a reproduction or straight out of your grandma’s closet – can go from boardroom (for day when paired with a chic cardi) to boardwalk (paired with heels for date night). A flowing maxi dress is a no-fuss, comfy option for traveling. Ditto for the simple 60’s sheath, which can be dressed up for almost any occasion with the right accessories.
Choosing between vintage pieces and reproductions can be largely a matter of comfort. It’s worth it to remember that some old-fashioned fabrics went out of style specifically because they were scratchy and hard-to-care-for, and that the popularity of girdles in certain past decades can mean it’s nearly impossible to find tops and bottoms that correspond to modern sizes. You may find you love the style more than you love the hunt for authentic pieces, or vice versa.
Find Your Sartorial Flair via Inspiration
Next, check in with your style icons. What did Audrey Hepburn, Liz Taylor, or Françoise Hardy wear during the warm-weather months? And how can you update their looks using stuff you already own? The easiest way to wear vintage without looking like you just stepped out of grandma’s closet is to pair retro and modern pieces – like a tissue-thin, 1970s-era embroidered top paired with bright cutoffs, or a gauzy floral dress worn with ultra-structured mod heels. Or start with the accessories – for instance, the perfect pair of cat’s eye sunglasses, or an amazing hat in the style of French milliner Lilly Daché, whose creations were popular from the 1930’s onwards.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with head-to-toe vintage, if that’s your signature look. Then again, what we think of as the “classic” summer looks of yesteryear – i.e. categorizing them as vintage — likely became classics because they were so easy to wear (i.e. had modern ease). Think Jackie Kennedy’s sleeveless blouse and Bermuda shorts, or Jane Birkin’s tucked-in white tees and jeans – just add a classic Chanel sun hat or a French market basket, and you’re ready for anything, with instant chic, to boot. Vintage French espadrilles? Absolutely! (You can find plenty of pairs on Etsy.)
But the focus on vintage for long summer weekends and garden parties glosses over the fact that vintage is, happily, also a definite do when it comes to work wear – the caveat being that’s where you might want to shy away from head-to-toe vintage, lest you come off as costume-y or less than serious about your job when seated next to more conservative colleagues. So this is instead a great time to focus on accessories like a classic Hermès scarf or straight-out-of-the-80’s pumps that can be worn elegantly with contemporary office attire without making an inappropriately large statement.
Vintage Treasure Troves
As to where to find it all, there’s no secret to shopping for true vintage apparel and accessories. The key is persistence. You can score some amazing pieces by checking in regularly at local thrift shops and consignment stores. It’s work, but if the staff gets to know you and your tastes, you might be able to convince them to put aside specific pieces that you’ve been searching for as they come in. There are also, of course, plenty of great online shops and consignment stores to find everything from bags to accessories. Read item descriptions carefully, and if you have any doubts about an item or about a seller, keep looking.
Maybe the rule of thumb for vintage dressing in the summertime should be “let the looks that speak to you guide you.” In today’s more democratic fashion world, it’s not unusual for women and men to set their own dressing rules, so don’t be afraid that your favorite vintage looks might be too much – even at the office, where most of us have more freedom to dress creatively than ever before (within reason). Wear what you love!
After all, it’s better to be a taste maker like Audrey than a fashion follower, no? So put your own spin on vintage fashion this summer!