Week three of Thrift Month has been all about exploring vintage fashion, and it was soooo much fun! I took a few of Caroline’s tips with me and went to an antique store that has an underground area with all vintage fashion.
You can read Caroline’s q&a here if you need a refresh, but here were the two tips I took with me this week:
- Go in with a color filter on
- Try to look at outfits in your wardrobe that you already love and transfer the same concepts to vintage
So here’s how the tips worked for me:
Go in with a color filter on:
I mentioned at the end of Caroline’s interview that I typically do have colors in mind when I go thrifting or shopping in general, but it’s usually a subconscious thing because I know the colors and neutrals I am typically drawn to.
This time though, I decided I was going to be more active in my approach and focus only on my neutrals, black and white pieces, and pops of color I have gravitated to for a long time:
- Emerald/forest greens
- Various reds
- Baby yellow
I ended up with neutral pieces only though because I was sticking to a budget (which I already busted a little) and there were a few neutral items I just couldn’t part with. Next time however you better believe I’m gonna make an effort to pull my colors and prioritize them!
Look at outfits in your wardrobe that you already love and transfer the same concepts to vintage:
I thought I would go into the experience with outfits that I know and love in mind, but in actuality, those outfits didn’t pop for me until I got into the fitting room and saw patterns in the types of items I was pulling. Everyone’s brain works differently, but I found the creative juices began to flow when I was trying on pieces and mentally putting them together with items I owned at home.
After that, I saw that several pieces ended up fitting into a formula that I already repeat a lot in my wardrobe:
Distressed Denim + Mules + Silk Top + Woven bag or Streamlined bag
So here’s what I ended up with:
- Leopard silk blouse
- Pleated silk blouse
- Wicker basket bag
- Neutral snakeskin bag
I felt really excited to find not one, but two top + purse combo’s that I knew would look good with my beloved distressed Levis and white mules.
I styled my four thrifted vintage finds with the same bottoms and shoes, so let me know which one is your fav?!
Outfit #1: Distressed Denim + Leopard Blouse + Wicker Bag + White Mules
I had been on the hunt for a snake print silk cami, so when I stumbled across this blouse I was instantly drawn to it. It’s not snake print, but it is a more neutral-cool toned leopard print and it fit so perfectly that I couldn’t pass it on. I’ll admit I’ve bit hook line and sinker (as my Dad would say) into the animal print trend, and I’m okay with that. The vintage wicker purse was also a find I had been on the hunt for some time, and the brass and bone detailing just sold me.
Styling Notes | Paired this vintage silk blouse and wicker bag with two modern pieces to create balance (Caroline talks about this in her q&a as well, and it has been something I have found works really well in balancing outfits as well)!
2 vintage items + 2 modern items
Outfit Details | Distressed Denim (old) – similar here | White mules (old) – similar here | Necklace | Vintage top (thrifted) | Vintage bag (thrifted)
Outfit #2 Distressed Denim + Pleated Blouse + Faux Snakeskin Bag + White Mules
I found myself drawn to this top because it was silk and just a lovely neutral – something I felt I could dress up or down. And the nude faux snakeskin vintage bag also seemed like such a good evening purse to add to my collection (again hitting on that animal print trend).
Styling Notes | I did the exact same combo in this outfit of – 2 modern pieces, and two vintage pieces to create a balance in the outfit and absolutely love the feeling that it created.
Outfit Details | The denim (old) – similar here | The mules (old) – similar here | Vintage top (thrifted) | Vintage bag (thrifted)
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Thrift Month week 3 was such a success and I’m excited to incorporate these timeless pieces into my wardrobe!
Stay tuned for the next q&a coming to you next week with an incredibly thrifty and talented Youtuber Beth Jones. She will be diving into tips on Thrifting the Runway, and her unique take on the world of fashion.
But for now, tell me – what do you think of Caroline’s tips? And what’s you’re favorite look from the two today?
So much love,
Mary Beth
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