vintage lover

Vintage clothing has really taken off over the past couple of years with every fashionista and glamour girl declaring “It’s vintage” its so trendy and best of all, green.

Vintage is a little different from second hand, in that vintage clothes are classed as such when they are twenty years old, or older. So, (fortunately or unfortunately) the 80’s now also count as vintage.

But second-hand is just as green.  Whatever is not being thrown out and is being worn for years to come is not clogging up a landfill somewhere.

Vintage shopping requires some skill, patience and preferably a day when your allergies aren’t acting up, because let’s face it, there is going to be dust.

Next, you need to find favourite vintage shops, and be prepared to rummage, and keep going back, because you never know when that next one of a kind perfect piece will appear.

One of my favourite places to do my vintage or second-hand shopping is Cape Town. I love wandering through the streets of the CBD, looking through the antique arcade, and finding second hand stores that sell amazing things that you know, no-one else will have.

But, these aren’t the only places to shop- you never know what is going to turn up in a charity shop, a regular second-hand store or even your granny’s cupboard.

A hint though- shopping vintage can be difficult because of sizing issues. You can’t exactly ask the shop assistant if they can order a smaller size from another branch. So look to the eras in which you know your figure type was celebrated. Stick thin? Think Twiggy style 1960’s micro-minis and maxi-dresses. Curvy? Look to the fifties for looks that will have you sizzling like Marilyn Monroe.

Don’t give up though if you can’t find anything in your size. Look to beautiful vintage accessories, beaded bags, fun hats and scarves and wraps.

Also keep in mind the fact that things can be altered if there is a shoulder pad you don’t like or a waist that needs taking in. The possibility with these kind of clothes are endless you just need to have a little bit of imagination.

The good thing about vintage is that clothes are often of better quality, made at a time when things were designed to last. And the longer they last, the longer they stay in your closet and out of our landfills.

If you are frightened by lace, velvet, fringe, and vintage shapes look towards some of our favourite celebs for inspiration. Christina Aguilera and Gwen Stefani are rocking the forties glam, Scarlet Johannson looks fabulously curvy in fifties style and even Angelina Jolie has been seen sporting a $25 vintage dress on the red carpet.