A Beginner's Guide to Vintage Shopping - What's Your Era?

If you ever wondered what is and isn’t vintage – there doesn’t seem to be a 'definitive' answer.  Some people say vintage ends in the 1990s and some might tell you that it ends in the 1970s, with the 1980s and 1990s classed as retro.

When you first start getting into the vintage scene, it’s often a good to get an idea what eras you like and start building up your wardrobe from there.  If you like a certain style for what ever reason - such as your favourite film or TV programme is set during those times, you love the music, or just feel you belong in that decade, then that’s a good start.

Of course you don’t have to go full on into that era dress up everyday (although it’s fun to do that!) if that's not you.  You can always wear touches of it, like vintage jackets and accessories with modern items.  Plus, why stick to one era?  I have pieces in my wardrobe spanning from the 1920s to the 1990s.  It’s simply about what you feel comfortable in and enjoy wearing. 

   

You might find it difficult to source clothes from some decades - simply because a lot of clothes haven’t survived. I find 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s are the easiest decades to find clothes from, but if you like the look of earlier eras but can’t find the clothes you can always go for replica clothing. A few vintage stalls at our events sell beautiful replica dresses, and they’re not always brand new. Fashion is cyclical and many styles keep coming back into fashion. For example this lovely 1940s style tea dress in the photo on the right, probably dates from the 1980s, so you can get a 1940s look and still be buying retro second hand clothing.

Also, if you've been in the high street stores lately, vintage style clothing is very fashionable at the moment.  There are loads of items in 50s style prints, 60s Mod styles, and 70s Bohemian styles on offer.  These can be teamed them up with a beautiful vintage silk scarf or some retro jewellery to give them a more authentic vintage feel. How about buying a vintage handbag from one of our stalls to go with your outfit?  One of the great things about vintage handbags is they have a pocket in them for a cigarette case – which is the exact size of a modern day smart phone!  

Don't forget we're still on the look out for the 'Face of Yorkshire Does Vintage' for our next issue of our magazine in the Spring.  So the next time you come to one of our events, why not dress up a bit and show off your collection of vintage finery? 

The Sixties Exhibiton at York Castle Museum

 

Hope you're all getting excited about the return of York Does Vintage on Sunday 14th October 2012!

If you can't wait and want to do something vintage between now and then, then why not go to the Sixties exhibition at the Castle Museum?  If you've got a York Card, you can get in for free.

They have some fab clothes on display from the era, like these 60s dresses.

The one on the left is a printed cotton dress with matching coat from 1969, that was donated to the museum by the owner who bought it as her going away outfit. The dress on the right is a printed nylon dress from 1968

And to go along with dresses are some very cool boots, accessories  and 60s make-up!





There's a good collection of 60s memorabilia.  Lots of items connected with music, a working jukebox, books, and toys.

Also the exhibition play homage to 60s TV with clips of programmes and news reels you can select to watch.  An early episode of Doctor Who staring William Hartnell is one of the things you you can view.

Another highlight of the exhibition is this Mod scooter and Parka on display.

So, if you like the 60s, then it's definately worth getting over the the Castle Museum for a look.

I will say I did find it a bit strange (in a good way!) looking at items that for me are so familiar on display in a museum in glass cases.  The clothes especially, because at our events there are often items not too dissimilar to the ones you can see in the pictures above for sale.  But then that's the point of the Castle Museum, it shows how ordinary people lived in the past and they are preserving items from this era for the future.