4 ways to rock Vintage without looking like your mum

Sam
Aug 4, 2016
4 min read

I was born in the 1990s, but I've always thought of myself as an old soul trapped in a young woman's body (the Carpenters anybody?), so my favourite part of thrift shopping has got to be finding clothing inspired by the 1970s and the 1980s. Think shoulder pads, loud prints, flare pants, and military-inspired buttons. While thrift shopping guarantees that you'll find clothing from the past, I often find myself walking out of the store empty-handed because I have absolutely no idea how to style vintage pieces without looking like I time travelled from the 1970s.

If you find it challenging to style vintage pieces of clothing from our collection, here are 4 simple ways to make your outfit va va voom!

1. The Slip Dress

Did you know that the slip dress was part of the 'underwear-as-outerwear' trend in the late 1990s? This '90s styling trick is back in-trend this summer, and I'm delighted that it is! This has got to be the easiest way to look put-together with minimal effort. All you have to do is put on a T-shirt, slip the dress over your shirt, and voila! You're ready to strut down the streets of Orchard Road.

This slip dress trend is also the perfect solution to styling very vintage-looking blouses. The High Neck Vintage blouse in black in our latest collection may seem a little daunting at first sight. Cuffed sleeves, vintage floral prints, high neck cut - everything my mum's mum would have approved of in the 1970s. Instead of pairing it with a plain black skirt, up the wow factor with a slip dress and a comfy pair of flats, and you're good to go!

If you're heading out for a party or a girls night out, you might want to consider changing up your footwear. For something more edgy and interesting, try the socks and heels trend! Not only does it look good, the socks keep your feet from having too many abrasions. We thought pairing faded blue socks with New Look's classic black stilettos was perfect for this look. We dare you to experiment with different colours, patterns and length.

2. Crop it up!

We don't mean cutting off the fabric on your blouse to create a cropped top. (Although if you're certain you will not regret this, we're behind you 100%!) But, if you're looking to create a similar cropped top effect without the permanent repercussions, we recommend the Tie-Front shirt trend. As early as the 1940s, women sought clothing that would help define their waists - think high-waisted bottoms with fitted waistlines. It was only in the 1990s that the tie-front trend took root, inventing a new way for women to achieve their desired waists and create a relaxed yet polished look.

The tie-front trend is an extremely simple way to add a little oomph to your button-up tops, and you have the option of pairing it with high-waisted bottoms or baring a little more skin. Our Shoulder Padded Oriental Top seemed to have made its way to us from the 1940s. While the vintage prints and laced lining were enough to scare me off, I love that shoulder pads create the illusion of having broader shoulders. Tying the front of the shirt embraces the structure that shoulder pads give you - sort of like an upside down triangle, to achieve that cinched waist within seconds.

We wanted to take this outfit back in time, so we opted for a pair of high-rise jeans reminiscent of the '70s flare pants and a pair of nude heel sandals. Alternatively, simply tuck the top into a pair of high-waisted shorts and you're ready for a comfortable day out with your girlfriends.

3. Print-on-Print

While this may not be a popular trend yet, mixing prints is easier than you think it is. For starters, stick to 2 patterns and simple silhouettes. We wanted to take our Polka Dotted Pinafore to a whole new level, so we thought it would be fun to pair it with a differently-printed blouse. Since we were still a little bit reserved when it comes to piling print on print on print, we opted for a safer option and chose a blouse from the same colour palette. This grey high-neck blouse was perfect to complete this look.

Depending on what you would like to achieve with the outfit, don't forget to accessorise! We thought this Portrait ring played up the vintage vibes and added a fun element to this otherwise ordinary look. This brings me to my next point...

4. Belt up

When in doubt, accessorise! The best thing about accessories is that they will NEVER go out of style. If your blouse is already screaming for attention, like our High Neck Vintage Blouse in White, let it have the spotlightt! Simply put on a pair of fitted pants and accessorise with a plain brown belt. Sometimes, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.