I’m a sucker for vintage inspired pieces whether it’s shoes, dress, bags, accessories and even photography. To some, vintage is just some outdated style worn by your granny or your mom when they were young. Well for me, it doesn’t have to be really vintage as in more than 20 years old, as long as it’s vintage inspired, I’d go gaga for it. So, why do I love vintage stuff? Here are some reasons.
- CHEAPER – OK. Some or most vintage pieces are quite expensive specially when you go to a vintage/collector’s shop and that’s due to its value and it’s also quite difficult to find them but, if you’re going to get your stuff at second-hand stores, most of them are really at a great price. You’re not paying for the price of a newly manufactured stuff so it’s a nice way to save money. But, if you’re going to ask me, I wouldn’t mind paying a little extra if it’s a nice piece.
- UNIQUENESS – If there’s one thing I hate about buying clothes at the mall or online is there are chances where you might bump into someone wearing the same dress as you have. Worse is when you’re both wearing them at the same time! Because of its uniqueness, it often catches people’s attention so you get to stand out from the rest. Time to shine! 🙂
- FASHION vs. STYLE – I’d definitely go for STYLE! Keeping up with the trend can be a tedious task. Who doesn’t know Yves Saint Laurent’s quote, “Fashions fade, style is eternal.“? Indeed! I don’t wanna be a fashion victim. Although, fashion is cyclical so there are chances that the previous trends are brought back today but, when you buy a vintage piece you get the value and something that is rarely found at the stores.
- TIME TRAVEL – Not literally though, but its like you’re brought back to a certain era or period of time.
- REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE – Sometimes, I would ransack my Mom’s closet and look for some clothes (usually garments that she no longer use) and see if I can find anything nice. They’re not usually my size so I would do some alterations and turn them into a new piece of outfit. Not only does it save money but, you avoid throwing them or use them as rugs. One time I found this really nice skin tone, see-through dress (there was also a blue one, same type) which she had when I was a kid. Unfortunately, she was a skinny woman and I’m not so the dress did not fit me. There was not much room for alterations and I did not want to destroy it so I put it back. 😦 I hope it’s still there.
- QUALITY! – Alright, it’s an old piece. A used bag or a hand-me-down dress but, they still look pretty nice after all these years. There may be some minor glitches like a loose button or the zipper won’t close but, you can still fix them. The pieces before are made with better materials and far more delicate techniques. Some pieces are even carefully made by hand to ensure the best quality. So, the next time you visit a vintage store, think of how meticulously they were made.
The best part of having vintage stuff is the story behind every piece. That dress you bought could be the dress that a woman used for her first date or a bracelet that was given to her. Not that they don’t value those things anymore but, they could have their own reasons why they had to let them go.
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