Vintage Fall wardrobe essentials
Oct 22, 2014 | by Becky Oeltjenbruns
Two stylish ladies and a Great Dane
The seasons are changing and with that comes warm tea, earlier sunsets, and chilly air. Now is the time to start transitioning your closet from the wild days of Summer to the crisp evenings of Fall. We’ve listed our top five vintage Fall wardrobe essentials – are these items navigating to the forefront of your closet as well? Tell us about your favorite Autumn staples in the comments!
Kitten heels
There’s something instantly classic and confident about a kitten heel. These are a great option for those days when you want to go a bit dressier than a flat, but need a break from the heights of a stiletto.
Kitten heels
We love these olive colored heels – the detailing really pops and the hue screams Fall. Keep your eyes peeled for a great pair during your next shopping adventure. Don’t be afraid to invest in a unique shoe that isn’t quite 100%. With the help of a good cobbler, you’ll revive them in no time and with relatively minor investment.
Learn all about the history of shoes and find even more retro styles/designers you’ll love here.
Scarves
One of our favorite things about Fall (other than the Pumpkin Spice Latte’s return to Starbucks) is layering. Adding a nice scarf to an outfit is an easy way to incorporate a pop of color, a new texture, or a special print. It’s such an easy step and can really tie an entire outfit together. For example, you can go down the classic route with the ascot look – learn how to tie an ascot with your scarf here.
So many beautiful patterns and colors to choose from!
If you are already incorporating other accessories with your look – such as larger jewelry pieces, you may not want to add a scarf into the mix. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to leave the scarf at home. Tie it onto your handbag in a pretty bow to give your style a fun, Parisian flair.
Hats
Adorable hat and box
As the weather gets cooler, the time for brilliant hats approaches! Donning a dashing topper is quintessentially vintage and there are great styles to choose from. We love this violet hat because the flowers add an extra feminine touch during the months when you’re so bundled up it can be easy to loose your shape under everything.
Much like a scarf, a hat can completely change the style of an ensemble and even make more casual outfits seem fancier.
Sweaters and jackets
Soft, textured knits are the perfect complement to the chillier temperatures. They are great over a pair of straight leg slacks, but can also help extend the life of your summery dresses too. Layering a nice structured jacket or pretty sweater along with a thick pair of stockings can help you transition your closet to Fall.
A trio of options…
We love this navy jacket – it was actually a men’s piece that we had tailored. The lining is great and the pockets are perfect for a dress clip. The bonus: it came with a vest that has a very unique, silk fabric back. Two pieces for the price of one – always a great thing. Like we mentioned with the kitten heels, don’t be afraid to buy something because it may need some repairs. If you’re drawn to it – go for it. Vintage pieces are, by nature, higher in quality and are very deserving candidates for some TLC. Keep in mind that you’re investing in a special look; at the end of the day, a little extra attention from a talented crafts person will add that final layer of polish that takes you from cool to couture.
Finally, a bolero jacket is always a great staple. It can pair with so many things – a boat neck tunic, a dress, or even a pair of skinny jeans on a hectic day. It’s easy to find one with character – we love the flower buttons on our tan jacket. Keep in mind that changing out buttons is not a hugely difficult task, so if you find a piece you like you can pair it with the vintage buttons of your choice!
Statement brooches
If you’re like us, it can be easy to feel a little too wrapped up during the colder months. With so many layers becoming necessary, it’s not uncommon to overlook that final layer – the coat. While it’s great to find a trench in a wild pattern, it’s more practical to find a good neutral to anchor your collection. But just because you’ve dipped your toe into the land of beige, it doesn’t mean you’ve decided to be boring.
Brooch beauties
Large, statement brooches are the perfect way to accessorize your coat and make it feel unique. New brooch – new look! What we love about having these options in the closet, is it really makes one coat do a lot for you. And the tremendous side benefit is that the coat is often neglected, so taking it to the next level gives you some serious style points. The basic coat routine makes sense – you put together time in the morning finishing your look and then before you know it you’re running late. You quickly throw on your coat and you’re out the door.
The only flaw in this understandable scenario – you aren’t giving people a heads’ up to your awesome style sense. Add a fun brooch and let people know you’ve got a cool vintage style (and they’ll be excited to see your outfit of choice for the day too!)
For our readers: What do you think of our top five list?
Great list!
Love, love hats – the perfect vintage accessory! They can totally dress your ensemble up or down, pull the look together and highlight your vintage individuality! Wish we wore them more often.
Vintage sweaters are great – retro fair isle or beaded cardigans – paired with a plaid skirt/kilt or your tried and true denims (put that cardi over a fabulous “Cause a Frockus” t shirt! NOW we’re talkin’ retro chic!) a pair of ballet slippers, Doc Martens or high heel boot? Baby, you are cookin’ with gas! Plain/simple modern sweater with a fabulous vintage brooch or dress clip, a vintage cloche and large whale cords?? Gorgeous – and different. Pulled together and casually elegant, not looking like all the Ugg and cut-off wearing girls.
The only addition? Gloves! Why not add a pair of gorgeous gloves? They were once (and not that long ago) an important part of a girls costume, They are really beginning to show up once again on modern runways – think Chanel, Vivianne Westwood and Lanvin – and even the new half-palm look – what a perfect accent.
Fall is my favorite time for fashion (the sweaters and jackets cover up a multitude of sins!)- there are many options and the need for jackets, scarves and the like give many opportunity to get out your vintage accessories and style up!
Yes – sweaters with plaid skirts are an absolute favorite look for Fall! And of course, gloves – what a great way to take your look to the next level!! Fall is such a wonderful time of year for fashion because you can layer and play with all sorts of styles and pieces.