How To Dress More Vintage

When you know how to dress more vintage, you know how to show of your individual style and creativity. There are some risks to dressing more vintage, though. If you only wear vintage, second hand clothes, you can come off as being terribly out of date and out of style. The key to a great vintage look is to mix consignment shop finds with the latest trends.

1. Check out thrift stores. If you keep your eyes open, you will be able to snag great vintage pieces that flatter your form. Thrift stores tend to be much cheaper than vintage and consignment shops. The trade off is that you may have to sift through a vast collection of size XL t-shirts before coming across a great tweed blazer or mini-dress from the 1960's.
2. Head to your local vintage store. The people who own or work in vintage stores usually have a great eye for style. Many store owners will personally go out and look for vintage finds to sell in their stores. When in doubt about a garment, ask someone at the store for their opinion. They should be able to tell you the decade the piece comes from, its designer and whether or not it looks good on you.
3. Inspect and try on the clothes before purchasing. Sizes have changed considerably over the years. Today's women's size 6 is bigger than a size 6 from the 1970's. Men's sizes fluctuate as well. Always make sure the garment fits, you may not be able to return it. Also check the garment for any stains or tears. If there is a tear, you may be able to repair it or take it to a tailor. A stain can be more difficult to remove.
4. Mix and match vintage wear with contemporary wear. Dressing vintage works best when it is subtle. Wear that great tweed blazer from 1975, but pair it with a modern pair of jeans or up to date jewelry. You can try mix and matching pieces from different decades and see how that looks. For instance, try wearing a bold sweater from the 1980's with skinny suit pants from the 1960's.
5. Make sure it looks good on you. There is no point in dressing more vintage if you look frumpy and unkempt. The four dollar pair of bell bottoms may seem like a good idea, but if you look absolutely silly in them, odds are you will not wear them much.