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I used to be really good at vintage shopping, like really good. not in the curated depop seller kind of way — but in the digging-through-junk-til-you-find-magic kind of way. i used to be able to see what others couldn’t, i would look at an old tweed jacket and think it would look cute layered over a floaty white dress with a pair of boat shoes, while others just thought it smelt bad.
i grew up in a tiny town that didn’t have much in the way of clothing stores, but what we lacked in big chains we made up for in charity shops. the main street alone had at least 4 and they were all HEAVEN to me. i’ll never forget the feeling of anticipation you’d get just from walking in, wondering what had been stuffed onto the already overcrowded racks since i was last there.
growing up i would spend hours in my room cutting up outfits from magazines and re-arranging them into notebooks, gluesticking together an entirely new vision from the one that the (insert popular fashion mag of the 2010’s here) had decided for me. i would then attempt to rebuild my gluesticked-paper-doll outfits in real life from second-hand pieces i found in the aforementioned charity shops. what resulted was an undeniable sense of personal style.
was it always chic? no way! do i regret some of the stylistic choices i made at age 14? absolutely! but what teenage izzy lacked in fashion know-how she made up for in sheer confidence in her style vision.
and that my lovely readers is what we are here to discuss today. can a room full of old clothes really have that much of an effect on ones personal style? can vintage shopping fix a fashion crisis?
there was only one way to find out…i needed to hit the racks !
i decided in order for this to work i had to have zero agenda, i didn’t have to buy anything or go to any new hot spot, i just needed to give myself over to the process. no inspo board. just my own curiosity and an open mind. the aim wasn’t to replace my entire wardrobe, the idea was to have fun with clothes again. see what colours, fabrics or silhouettes i’m drawn to, see what got me excited.
so i got up early on a thursday morning and, armed with a list of stores and a large iced latte, i started my experiment. things were slow at first, i felt my creative juices were being bottled by high prices and over-curation, but eventually i arrived at a store that looked more like a lost and found closet than a clothing store and we were AWAY.
the fashion dragon deep within me had risen from its long slumber. roars in high fashion
while the wicked soundtrack blared in my headphones, i systematically worked my way through every rack of clothing in every store, shoving my way through coats and jackets as dust clouds billowed around me. i burrowed deep into bins of musty shoes, my arms were piled high with early 2000’s mini skirts and striped baby tees. cheesecutter hats, oversized handbags, wedge ballet flats, chunky belts — you name it, i dragged it into my changing room.
and as i squished and squeezed into every clothing item, tangling myself in the curtains of changing rooms barely big enough for a child, i grinned. THIS is what fashion and style is all about. the hunt! somewhere along the way, whether it be due to age, social media, income etc, i had stopped hunting and without that process i had stopped recognising my style in what i wore.
going thrift shopping with no agenda meant i was able to experiment with things i would never have tried otherwise, in spaces that felt stress free and fun. and no, i didn’t buy a crazy haul of things (in fact i barely bought anything), but that wasn’t the point, what i came away with instead was inspiration and excitement over putting together outfits. and more importantly, for the first time in a long time i really felt like i had some agency over my own style.
giving myself permission to just go thrift shopping for the sake of it might seem basic, but for someone who hasn’t done it in a while, this process has been a real breakthrough. do i think it’s fixed my fashion crisis? i mean, not immediately (that would be silly), but it does feel like a fashion door has opened in my mind that was previously closed, and that is exciting.
so go forth my style minions! descend upon your local charity shops and vintage stores with a renewed vigour and a lust for fashion freedom. cast off the shackles of fast fashion and go have some FUN.
and on that bombshell of fashion wisdom, i shall take my leave. i will see you next week where we tackle another crucial part of the personal style puzzle: upcycling and DIY.
okay, we have now reached the portion of the blog where i pause my existential fashion ramblings, and together we go through my literal open tabs. AND in honour of todays topic everything is vintage.
IZZYS OPEN TABS
DKNY GREY NAVY STRIPE MAXI DRESS
obsessed with the slouchyish and the stripe is the perfect colour! perfect summer dress to throw on over a bikini. obsessed.
MARC JACOBS CORAL PINSTRIPE JACKET
kindof circus vibes but in a chic way! love the colour and the orange buttons, shes the perfect little summer jacket.
BURBERRY PLAID PRINT PUMPS
i screamed a little when i saw these. the block heel with the rounded toe!! with the burberry plaid!! eeeeee!!!
RAMY BROOKE ONE SHOULDER BLOUSE
i am loving an off the shoulder moment this summer and the floaty 2000’s chloe pirate vibe of this top is really doing it for me
BLACK AND WHITE POLKA DOT TANK TOP
everyone needs a simple polka dot tank top imo and this one is purrfect. a CUTE summer staple.
GEORGE GINA & LUCY BAG
GG&L bags are everywhere atm but this one is the chicest one ive seen. the double pockets with the plaid and the little orange bow!!? i mean cmon
TIFFANY & CO SQUARE GLASSES
these are such a classic and the tiffany blue on the inside is so chic! im obsessed with the little criss cross on the side also. CUTE
c u next friday <3
izzy.opentabs.com