Long Live Vintage Clothing
Leather measuring tape, a Martin Luther reference, and a rare recipe
I started this newsletter to write about other people’s clothing. Yes, clothing as a concept, getting dressed as a metaphor, etc. I’ve always loved hand-me-downs. The picture of me at my dad’s desk in last week’s newsletter? All hand-me-downs, according to my mom. And as the oldest, they were hard to come by! Cut to present day and I almost never buy new clothes. When I do, they feel stiff, sort of lifeless, and hard to integrate into my judgemental, preloved closet.
There’s no point dancing around the argument, since we’re all here with some sort of basic agreement that vintage clothing is worth discussing. So here it is, my 5 Theses on Why Vintage Clothing (including thrifted and secondhand) Is Inherently Better Than New. Buckle up.
Thesis 1: Quality
My first and favorite reason for shopping secondhand. You’ll always be able to afford higher quality clothes if they’re used. If it’s lasted since 1962, it’ll last you longer than something based on its design from a fast fashion retailer.
Thesis 2: Individuality
What’s better than knowing if you walk down Prince St. in Soho, you won’t run into anyone else in the same outfit? Plus, think of the compounding effect. First it’s the blouse no one has, then the coat, and soon your style is all your own.
Thesis 3: Process
Not to get too Oscar Wilde about the whole thing, but good things are worth waiting for. Take time out of your on-demand life to enjoy the process of building a closet you love. Indulge in the hunt. Romanticize what might be out there.
Thesis 4: Environmental
No one tackles this defense like my friend Whitney Bauck (subscribe to her newsletter here)! We talked about made-to-order fashion, another love of mine, for Byrdie. Which is good, but still not as “good” as rewearing what’s already been manufactured.
Thesis 5: Narrative
I avoid leaning too heavily on the “every blazer has a story to tell” ideal, but it’s true. Wearing something vintage summons immediate interest to your outfit. When someone asks where the woolen poncho you pull out at dinner is from, you’ll have a tale to tell.
Archived Outfit
Sharon Stone had this period in 1991 where she was consistently wearing these ultra-cool suiting looks for no apparent reason. Dinner at Spago was reason enough. It’s not as elementary as “the power of menswear.” There’s something about the way the tailoring still feels super sexy on Stone that keeps me coming back to these images. I’m all about the power blazer in the style of Mrs. Bieber, but I prefer the slightly more earnest take. Shopping menswear online is not for beginners, but check out this lighter version of Stone’s look. While we’re at it, this 70s set is so fun. I’d get the skirt of this suede set shortened to the jacket’s length for an incredible weekend lunch look. For my six male subscribers, here’s a Ralph Lauren corduroy jacket. Eat your heart out!
Honorable Mentions
There’s really only one tool you need to confidently shop vintage at home, besides strong wifi and a willingness to take an occasional L. It’s this tape measurer. And yes, only this tape measurer will do. It’s leather case is elegant, but more importantly, it rolls into a tight coil without any effort. It’s $9. Take it from an FIT grad, you need the right tools before you can build…I’ll drop the construction metaphor here.
We’re just getting acquainted, but it’s important you understand I’m not a TV Person. My best friend is a very well-watched TV Person. I’m prone to starting, stopping, and skipping through the Golden Age of Television we find ourselves in. All that said, my partner and I thoroughly enjoyed Station Eleven on HBO. The pandemic-ness hits close to home, but the entire show is poignant and deeply moving. I’ve been enjoying supplementing the viewing experience with this podcast.
And last thing! I made dinner this week (lucky enough to be marrying a former chef) and it was this salad. It’s the dairy-free dressing of my dreams. Bonus: I soaked my almonds before adding them to the Vitamix. Ok, that’s it. Let’s keep the domestic to a minimum.
Thank you so much for reading. This week, I wrote about Nike sneakers. See you next Thursday! x