Vintage Fashion Advice from a Pro
Nov 11, 2013 | by Becky Oeltjenbruns
Modified Image by Kurschner
The funnest part of putting together a vintage outfit is also the scariest. With all the unique accessories, rich colors, and tailored looks it can paralyze you as you work to finalize your daily style. All that individuality can feel staggering, but have no fear – we reached out to a shop owner who specializes in helping her clients look polished everyday!
Marsha with Flash Back Vintage
Marsha has been styling the Austin, Texas vintage community for over 30 years. Her beautiful shop, Flashback Vintage, is a venerable institution. Check them out online here: http://www.austinvintageclothing.com/. What is her number one rule with vintage?
“It’s all about being creative.”
Marsha’s Top Advice
Finding a top to complement free-flowing bottoms
Palazzo Pant Outfit
Palazzo pants can be incredibly fun to wear but a bit of a challenge to style. All that billowing grace is such a show stopper – so what do you wear on top? Marsha suggests fitted tops with a tailored feel. But the pizzazz of these trousers also lends itself to animal prints, velvety textures, strapless tops, and midriff-baring shirts.
She expertly paired our dark black palazzo pants from Dorothea’s Closet with this fitted top. The length perfectly meets the top of the trousers and the deep “v” of the blouse balances out the width of the bottoms, elongating our silhouette. You can further this casual weekend look with a nice brooch, long chain, charm bracelet, or a simple red clutch. Palazzo pants are a bold fashion choice, but with Marsha’s help we can confidently take this style for a night out on the town.
A fun trick she also suggests: vintage one-piece swimsuits as a fitted top. For this, you will want to gravitate to a suit with detailing and patterns. These extra elements help transition the suit into its new life as a top. The best part of this concept: you can enjoy your swimsuit long after the pool is closed!
Can you incorporate different patterns into one outfit?
Yes! Marsha says the best rule to follow is: do whatever feels right. Half the fun of vintage is that it’s inherently unique. She advises us to not be afraid to “get crazy with it” and be confident. Mixing patterns is very fashionable right now and vintage is a great way to embrace this trend.
Can you mix different time periods when dressing vintage?
This is not only okay, but encouraged. Use your creativity – pair a 1980s belt with a 1950s house dress; mix it up. Keep in mind that everything gets repeated in the fashion world, with each subsequent decade providing a new spin on the looks that came before. Vintage encourages us all to chart our own fashion destiny – don’t be afraid to experiment!
If you need any advice, reach out to your local vintage shop owner. They are your number one resource for getting personalized help. A good tip: call ahead to see which time might work best for you to stop in and get their take on your outfit creation. They are great brainstorming partners and work best when you schedule a time to meet.
Seamstress in London 1944
What should you ask a prospective tailor?
When it comes to shopping vintage, sizing can be tricky. Sometimes you’ll find a dress that you fall in love with, but the fit is a bit wrong. It’s worth a trip to a tailor to make the dress your own. Retro clothing is an excellent investment: from the higher-quality fabrics to the better structure, these pieces are made to last. Remember classic, vintage clothing never goes out of style and your closet will thank you for years to come.
It’s great to get personal recommendations when it comes to finding a seamstress or tailor. Again, talking to local shop owners is a productive place to start. Marsha stresses that the most important question to ask once you find a tailor: do you like to work on vintage? Retro pieces tend to be more complicated and more architectural in nature, so it’s often a labor of love. If you find a tailor who loves to work on vintage attire, you’ve found a new best friend!
Cause A Frockus would like to thank our tremendous resources: Marsha from Flashback Vintage, Wikipedia, Dorothea’s Closet where we found our lovely palazzo pants, and the wonderful people who put their images up on Wikipedia Commons without restriction.
Marsha loves mixing and matching. Do you? Show off your favorite self-styled look in the comments!